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Pirurvik Preschool
Where Inuit Ways of Being Meets Early Childhood Education
Our Story
Pirurvik Preschool began in 2012 with a vision rooted in community needs: to create early childhood education that truly embodies Inuit culture, language, and ways of knowing.
Educators Karen Nutarak and Tessa Lochhead founded Pirurvik—meaning "a place to grow" in Inuktitut—to bring together the wisdom of Inuit cultural values with complementary Montessori methods. The doors opened in Pond Inlet in 2016, creating a learning environment where children could immerse themselves in Inuktitut language and traditional knowledge through child-centered experiences.
From the beginning,
The preschool has served dual purposes: nurturing young children and serving as a living classroom where educators from across Nunavut can learn through observation and practice—embodying the very principles taught to the children.
The community's embrace of this "culture-first" approach to early learning led to recognition through the Arctic Inspiration Prize (2018) and Governor General's Innovation Award (2022). These honors have helped Pirurvik grow from a single classroom to a movement that touches communities throughout the territory.
Today,
Pirurvik continues welcoming educators to Pond Inlet for immersive learning while expanding digital resources to support our growing network of early childhood educators who are reimagining education in ways that honour both tradition and childhood.
Our Journey
2012
Karen Nutarak and Tessa Lochhead begin developing the vision for Pirurvik Preschool together, and then with the Parent Committee and the DEA of Pond Inlet.
2013
Karen, Tessa and the Parent Committee secure a classroom location at the Ulaajuk Elementary School in Pond Inlet.
2014
Conversations begin with the Nunavut Department of Education in order to obtain licensing to open the preschool in Pond Inlet
2015-2017
Partnership forms with Nunavut Arctic College to provide the Early Childhood Education Diploma program, creating a pathway for local educators. Graduates of this program join the Pirurvik teaching team.
2016
Pirurvik Preschool welcomes its first children in Pond Inlet. The same year, with support from Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corp and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. for resource development support, and a pilot project in Clyde River adopt the approach for their community program.
2017
Community support grows with funding from Qikiqtani Inuit Association to support community childcare centres
2018
Pirurvik Preschool wins the prestigious $1 million Arctic Inspiration Prize (AIP) with the support of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and Adriana Kusugak, the executive director of Ilitaqsiniq- Nunavut Literacy Council and an AIP Ambassador.
2018-2025
Knowledge-sharing expands to eight additional childcare centres in Baker Lake, Arviat, Chesterfield Inlet, Igloolik, Iqaluit, Kinngait, Rankin Inlet, and Taloyoak.
2019
Experienced Inuk educator Neevee Wilkins champions the IQ-Montessori approach for her kindergarten class at Joamie Elementary School in Iqaluit, establishing a five-year pilot program with support from school leadership and the Iqaluit District Education Authority.
2019
Ashley Tulugak, an accomplished Inuk educator, transforms her classroom at Leo Ussak Elementary School in Rankin Inlet after participating in Pirurvik's training and receiving ongoing mentorship. Her thesis, "Transformation and Implementation from a Traditional Kindergarten to an Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and Montessori Kindergarten," leads to her appointment at the Nunavut Department of Education, where she develops resources for educators territory-wide.
2020
Leah Kippomee, a trailblazing Inuk graduate from the Nunavut Arctic College Early Childhood Education program and lead educator at the community's Pirurvik Preschool, receives the prestigious Prime Minister's Award for Early Childhood Education. This national recognition honors Kippomee's exceptional contributions to culturally-relevant early childhood education in Nunavut, highlighting the impact of the Pirurvik Preschool approach. Her achievement represents a significant milestone for Inuit leadership in early childhood education across Canada.
2022
The Governor General's Innovation Award acknowledges the program's contribution to early childhood education, with recognition extending throughout the circumpolar world. The same year, Employment and Social Development Canada's Early Learning and Child Care Innovation program provided additional support for Pirurvik Preschool's education initiative.
PRESENT
Pirurvik Preschool continues its hands-on training in Pond Inlet while extending learning opportunities through a new online platform. A collaboration with the Indigenous Montessori Network creates opportunities for knowledge exchange beyond Nunavut, connecting communities committed to culturally-grounded early education.
Our Impact
From a local initiative to a territory-wide movement, Pirurvik Preschool has transformed early childhood education across Nunavut. With IQ and Montessori training extended to nine communities and plans for all 25 communities throughout Nunavut, hundreds of children now receive education that honors their cultural identity while building essential skills.
The impact reaches beyond preschool, with elementary classrooms adopting our methods, creating local employment opportunities, and building community capacity. Our approach revitalizes the teaching profession, offering educators meaningful career paths that combine cultural leadership with professional growth, leading to greater job satisfaction and retention.
Most critically, Pirurvik’s program addresses a pressing territorial challenge: providing Inuit children access to education that strengthens cultural identity, ensures academic success, and establishes foundations for lifelong wellbeing.
Recognition
Pirurvik Preschool's commitment to culturally-grounded early childhood education has been honored through several significant national awards. In 2018, our work was acknowledged with the $1 million Arctic Inspiration Prize, providing vital resources to share our approach with more communities across Nunavut.
In 2020, Leah Kippomee—a pioneering Inuk graduate of the Nunavut Arctic College Early Childhood Education program and lead educator at Pirurvik—was awarded the Prime Minister's Award for Early Childhood Education. This recognition celebrated not only Leah's exceptional contributions but marked an important milestone for Inuit leadership in education.
The Governor General's Innovation Award followed in 2022, acknowledging our transformative approach to early childhood education. These honors reflect the growing recognition of our work throughout the circumpolar world, where Pirurvik has become known as a model of Indigenous-led, culturally-relevant education that nurtures children's identities while honouring their innate wisdom and developmental journey.
Our Team
A note from Pirurvik Preschool Directors and Founders
Jedidah Merkosak
Co-Director of Pirurvik Preschool and Chair of the Nunavut Coalition of DEAs
“
I was with the DEA for over 17 years, having to represent our community and listening to our Inuit. When I was looking through what we have to teach in ECE, I thought- this is what we have been talking about over the years with the education counsel. This is what our community wants to see being taught in schools.
Tessa Lochhead
Co-Founder and Co-Director of Pirurvik Preschool
“
The goal was to decolonize education by putting the power of learning in the child's hands, giving them the opportunity to choose how to engage in education.
Karen Nutarak
MLA Community of Pond Inlet, Founding Co-Director of Pirurvik Preschool
“
I see this preschool will help a lot of people in the community. It’s going to heal the pain that people felt when education was first brought to the Inuit. It’s going to be the foundation for children to take education seriously. To succeed. I think we’re going to have children who will be successful that have come through the preschool because they will learn from their level of education and as this Montessori-based preschool is being adapted by our own elementary school.
Pirurvik Preschool Staff
We are fortunate to have a team of committed and experienced staff that have been the leaders in the vision we have held for early- childhood education. We extend our gratitude and appreciation for the investment they make in the children and the preschool each day.
Leah Kippomee
Lead Educator and Manager
Julie Pewatualuk
Educator
Selena Enoogoo
Educator
Raymee Angnetsiak
Support staff
Marlene Kippomee
Support staff
Support Our Vision
Interested in supporting Pirurvik Preschool's transformative work in Nunavut communities through culturally-centered education? Together, we can strengthen Inuit language, cultural identity and positive educational outcomes for future generations.
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