Early Years

Inuuqatigiit Centre’s Early Years Programs are committed to nurturing the learning, development, health, and well-being of young Inuit children within a loving, caring, holistic, and culturally rich environment. Our programs create a strong sense of belonging while supporting children’s connection to Inuit culture, identity, community, and the Inuktitut language. We recognize that children are unique gifts to the community, each bringing their own strengths, knowledge, experiences, and potential.

Our Early Years Programs are grounded in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and guided by Inuit values, knowledge, language, culture, and ways of being. Our approach is also informed by the Six Aboriginal Head Start Components, and Ontario’s How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years.  Our programming is rooted in the four foundations of Belonging, Well-Being, Engagement, and Expression.

We recognize children as capable, competent, curious, and full of potential, and we view families as essential partners in children’s learning and development. Through meaningful relationships, culturally responsive experiences, play-based learning, and opportunities to explore and express themselves, children are supported to develop a strong sense of identity, confidence, belonging, and connection to their culture and community. We strive to create environments where children feel welcomed, respected, heard, and valued, and where their families feel a strong sense of belonging within the Inuuqatigiit community

Our Early Years Programs are committed to creating a foundation where young Inuit children can grow, learn, thrive, and develop a strong and proud connection to who they are, where they come from, and their community.