“Now computers are becoming an indispensable part of Inuit life”

By NUNATSIAQ NEWS

The Pinnguaq software development group in Pangnirtung is pitching a new education project to schools and youth organizations across Nunavut: a “code club” aimed at teaching the basics of software programming to young people.

“When we don’t understand something that is such a huge part of our daily lives, we cannot control it,” Ryan Oliver of Pinnguaq said in a proposal document.

Modeled after a British group that sponsors 819 Code Clubs throughout the United Kingdom, a Nunavut code club would help young people learn how to write the programs that make computers work for people.

“Pinnguaq believes strongly in the need to understand the technology we use and we’ve developed the Code Club to share in that vision,” the group said.

Pinnguaq is already working on the development of Inuktitut mobile app games for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

They point out that many Nunavummiut now use computers every day.

“Now computers are becoming an indispensable part of Inuit life,” they said in their proposal.

At the same time, most Nunavummiut don’t understand how computers work.

“Unfortunately we increasingly don’t understand the very technology we rely on so heavily. Computer science instruction in school is minimal and the devices themselves are becoming harder and harder to take apart and study,” the group said.

This means people are left to the mercy of those who design computers.

“When we cannot control technology, it controls us, and we are left to the whims of those who design it, regardless of their intentions.”

The group proposes offering a five-day course open to about 15 kids between the ages of 10 and 20.

“Each child will have a computer to work on that they will not need to share, and the registration will be limited to the number of computers that we have available,” the group said.

Pinnguaq offers more information here.