[4] Schools in the Canadian Arctic are designed not only to accommodate the education of children but also to play a role as public spaces and cultural resources within the community.

[7] The design of Tuugaalik High School was influenced by Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ) guidelines that encompass respect, being open and welcoming, community service, consensus building, resourcefulness and caring for the environment.

[5] The building design used bold colours representing the Arctic springtime and incorporated natural light, bringing a positive atmosphere within the school,[8] aiming to reduce truancy by creating an environment that students would be excited to attend.

[1] The school year runs from mid-August through to the beginning of June, with vacations at Christmas and Easter, plus a week off in February for teacher professional development.

[1] In addition to the curriculum, the school also aims to arrange a number of day-long land trips by Ski-Doo and qamutiik towards the end of May each year.