Government of Nunavut and CWF Officially Partner for WILD Education

IQALUIT, Nunavut (May 31, 2010) – The Nunavut Department of Environment will be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Wildlife Federation to become an official partner in its WILD Education program.

WILD Education is a highly acclaimed and widely recognized conservation education program delivered all across Canada. WILD Education fosters environmental understanding and awareness through hands-on and innovative learning experiences. Through this partnership, the Nunavut Department of Environment looks forward to building capacity among diverse Nunavummiut including educators, environmental professionals and others to share their knowledge and engage youth in environmental learning.

“Education is a very important part of our work as a Department,” said Simon Awa, Deputy Minister of Environment, Government of Nunavut. “Together with the CWF, we are looking forward to exploring opportunities to partner with Elders, other departments and Inuit organizations to integrate science and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in environmental and conservation education.”

Since forming the partnership in early 2009, the Department of Environment has delivered several WILD Education training and education workshops to Nunavut youth, teachers, and teachers-in- training, all across Nunavut.

“The Canadian Wildlife Federation is honoured to partner with the Nunavut Department of Environment for the culturally relevant delivery of Wild Education programs,” said Wade Luzny, Executive Vice President of CWF. “We are thrilled to visit Iqaluit and to hear from both Elders and students about what environmental stewardship means to them. I truly believe that by working together, communities, schools, government and non-governmental organizations can conserve the wild species and spaces that we all depend on, using local wisdom to guide the way.”

To commemorate the agreement, a signing ceremony and community feast with local entertainers will take place in Iqaluit June 1 at Nakasuk school. A series of WILD Education workshops will also be delivered to a number of Iqaluit school classes throughout Environment Week.

About the Canadian Wildlife Federation:
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national non-profit charitable organization dedicated to ensuring an appreciation of our natural world and a lasting legacy of healthy wildlife and habitat. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, developing and delivering educational programs, sponsoring research, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending policy changes and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. For more information, visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca.
For More Information Contact:
 
Sharina Dodsworth                 Heather Robison
GN Department of Environment    Canadian Wildlife Federation
A/Manager of Communications     Media and Community Relations
(867) 975-7749                        (306) 550-4155
sdodsworth@gov.nu.ca              heatherr@cwf-fcf.org