Parents throughout Nunavut wanted an early childhood education program (ECE) that would be culturally relevant, rooted in Inunnguiniq and traditional child-rearing practices. They also wanted a program that would be responsive to the needs of their community. The Pirurvik – A Place to Grow project was awarded $1 million to change the lives of children throughout Nunavut by developing an innovative and comprehensive ECE program rooted in the Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit principal Pilimmaksarniq: the traditional practice of allowing children to learn at their own pace by following their own natural curiosity and choosing topics that interest them. The long-term goal is to augment current programming for infants and toddlers in seven communities across all three regions of Nunavut. The model could eventually be replicated throughout the territory.
