Feature Story

Exploring our global community at Long Island Children's Museum

Long Island is now immersed in an Arctic front unlike anything the region has seen before. It's happening at Long Island Children's Museum, which is hosting its first traveling exhibit, "Siqiniq: Under the Same Sun,," a look at life in a remote Inuit village in the Canadian Arctic.The exhibit, making its debut in the New York metropolitan area after visiting children's museums throughout North America, transports families 2,500 miles north to the Canadian village of Igloolik. It explores the way traditional and modern life can coexist, providing an opportunity for children to learn more about and appreciate the similarities and differences between themselves and our neighbors to the north."We felt it was important to have an exhibit that deals with culture geared for kids," said Edy Gonzalez de Scollard, LICM's Director of Education. "It's so important for children to learn about other places and see how other life experiences are relevant to those of kids on Long Island. 'Siqiniq,' which means sun in the native Inuktitut language, reminds us that no matter where we live, we all share something in common, we live under the same sun,"In keeping with LICM's permanent exhibits, "Siqiniq: Under the Same Sun," produced by the Canadian Children's Museum/Canadian Museum of Civilization, is multi-disciplinary, hands-on, interactive collection of activities housed in a 1,200 square foot gallery on the museum's first floor. Visitors explore a day in the life of two Inuit children in a small community in the territory of Canada's eastern Arctic called Nunavut, whose hopes dreams and interests are, of course, vastly different, yet remarkably similar to those of Long Island's children. "Parents and kids can unleash their imagination, exploring the lifestyle of a people who are steeped in tradition, yet through technology, are active participants in the global community," said Executive Director Bonnie Dixon. "We've done exhaustive research to bring Long Island one of the most compelling, hands-on family exhibits in the world that will educate, inform and inspire."Visitors delve into the lives of the two Inuit children - Suulaaq and Agluukkaq - through four components.Out on "The Land," an igloo is the centerpiece of events held during traditional springtime festivals, which take place outside on the sea ice. During these community-wide celebrations, Igloolik residents enjoy such competitions as ice fishing, snowmobile races and igloo building. They also play games of strength and agility, popular with all ages, which visitors can attempt on the mat, recreating the intricate steps and balance feats. The youngest children can try "ice fishing" and listen to storytelling inside the igloo."The House" recreates the basic home environment in which an Igloolik family lives. It contains a kitchen where visitors can find ingredients to make native foods and work with authentic utensils. There are also games to play to discover new things about Arctic life, a computer to spell and print names in Inuktitut, and traditional outdoor clothing to try on."The Co-op" recreates the typically owned and operated enterprises that flourish in Inuit communities. Here, visitors can "purchase" supplies, take inventory, upack "shipments" that have just arrived. and identify animal furs. In the traditional crafts workshop section, children can try carving a soapstone, create a felt collage or make a stencil print, with authentic tools and materials.Finally, in the "Living Arctic" area, visitors can continue to learn and explore. There are books are on the Arctic environment and Inuit folklore to examine, along with a scrapbook and activity area where children can share stories of their own lives by contributing to a giant scrapbook.In conjunction with the exhibit, the museum is presenting a variety of special events, including workshops and films, on a weekly basis. These include arts and crafts programs, an "Arctic Olympics" and theater performances.

Siqiniq: Under the Same Sun at Long Island Children's Museum