Collaborators

For over a decade, Ilitaqsiniq has been committed to carrying out external evaluations of its programs. During this time, we have been able to demonstrate repeated, successful outcomes to our Collaborators. Just as importantly, we have been able to learn from the evaluations and turned this into improvement for future programs. Our comfort with evaluation frameworks was also the impetus for our research and development of the Inuit Evaluation Toolkit.

Starting in 2010, we undertook a large-scale, in-depth evaluation project of our Miqqut program, spearheaded by Professor and Chair of Anthropology at the University of Winnipeg, Shelley Tulloch. The purpose was to assess Ilitaqsiniq’s model of non-formal learning – regardless of the cultural content.

“Solid, consistent and lasting outcomes for participants”

The project was able to demonstrate solid, consistent and lasting outcomes for participants, such as the following:

• Effectiveness in improving literacy and essential skills of adult learners.
• Participants reported improved language skills in Inuktitut & English.
• Synergetic and overlapping results in the areas cultural skills, literacy and essential skills, and well-being, increasing the overall impact of Ilitaqsiniq programs.
• In the area of cultural skills, participants learned new skills or improved their skills in traditional cultural activities – creating art and making traditional Inuit clothing. Traditional learning methods were most important for participants who had missed this experience because they went to residential schools or had lost a parent.
• Building up participants’ self-confidence and essential skills which then supports them to move on to enrolling in further training and formal learning opportunities or joining the workforce.
• Increased health, well-being and confidence.
• Increased engagement and healthy participation in family and community life.