Videoconference closes communication gap between
North and South
By Julie Grenier, TG magazine youth journalist
Those who attended the "Arctic Forever" exhibit Thursday would
surely attest that Canada is, in fact, a land of diverse peoples,
cultures and lifestyles. The exhibit featured a videoconference
between two schools, one grade 7 class from Inuksuk High School in
Iqualit (North-West Territories) and one grade 5 class from
Nesbitt Annex School in Montréal. They were linked by
satellite and could clearly see one another and communicate
directly. It provided a forum for the two classes to discuss and
share knowledge about their environments. Both classes presented
videoclips to one another which depicted their way of life and
their surroundings.
The one-and-a-half hour videoconference focused on three areas:
How we live; Understanding Animas in the Arctic; and Skills
Sharing. Each half-hour session gave parcticipants the opportunity
to ask questions and share personal experiences.
The presentation was organized by the Canadian Museum of Nature
and the Centre for Traditional Knowledge. According to Carol
Thiessen, project manager, the concept of the arctic exhibit was
to link science with indigenous knowledge. This pilot project will
be further developed into a permenant "Arctic Communication
Gallery" at the Canadian Museum of Nature, located in Ottawa who's
goal it is to provide extensive communication with those living
north of 60.