Sheepa Papatsi Visits Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School

On Tuesday, February 24, Indigenous community partner, Sheepa Papatsi, visited Mr. Gorman’s Contemporary Indigenous Issues and Perspectives in a Global Context (NDW) class at Father Leo Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School. Sheepa shared a wealth of knowledge about her home, Baffin Island, in Nunavut. She spoke about the Land, cultural stories, and traditional foods, offering students a firsthand look into Inuit life.

Students were especially surprised to learn about the seasonal extremes in her community, where there can be 24 hours of darkness in winter and 24 hours of daylight in summer. Sheepa also brought a collection of Inuit art, jewelry, clothing, and cultural items—including the ulu, a traditional knife used by Inuit women for thousands of years. Her visit provided students with a rich and authentic learning experience rooted in Inuit knowledge and lived experience.