Alookie Elementary
Pangnirtung, NU
Our mandate under the Department of Education, Government of Nunavut is to develop able human beings through programming grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Inuit ways of knowing, being and doing). At Alookie Elementary, our staff strives to provide our students with a safe, inclusive and engaging learning environment. We are committed to helping our students achieve their fullest potential, and to properly preparing them for transitioning into high school.
Details
Population of Communities
1,577 (2024 Gov. of Nunavut)
Languages Spoken
Inuktitut
English
Grades
Kindergarten - Grade 5
About Alookie Elementary
With a deep commitment to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), the foundational system of Inuit traditional knowledge and societal values, Alookie Ilisavik. The school regularly hosts immersive cultural units, such as community-wide seal celebrations. During these events, local elders are invited into the school to teach young students traditional skills, such as how to carve meat, clean, dry, and soften sealskin for garments, and understand the historical evolution of Pangnirtung through oral storytelling. These units often culminate in community feasts or the annual Spring Camp program, usually held for three weeks in late April/early May.
Bilingual literacy is another core pillar of the school, ensuring that Inuktut is heavily promoted and integrated into daily primary education alongside English. This dual-language framework helps young children maintain strong linguistic ties to their families and elders while mastering modern literacy standards.
ᐊᓗᑭ ᐃᓕᓴᕕᒃ− Alookie School
ᐸᓐᓂᖅᑑᖅ− Pangnirtung
Basic Phrases:
Ullaakkut [oohl – LAH – koot] = "Good morning"
Unnusakkut [ooh – nooh – sah – koot] = "Good afternoon"
Nakurmiik [nah-coo-meek] = "Thank you"
