Students from N.W.T. and Nunavut learn carpentry, life skills at Ottawa Campus

Posted on Tuesday, July 30th, 2024

Fifteen students from Nunavut and the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) have come to Algonquin College to participate in this year’s Northern Youth Abroad (NYA) Next program. Open to youth aged 16-22, NYA Next students live at the Ottawa Campus while receiving individual career coaching, volunteering in the community and learning presentation skills. They leave the program with high school credits, career preparedness, and the experience of living on a college campus.

Two carpentry students stand on either side of a doghouse construction project.

Troy Tutcho and Enosi Nashalik. Troy is looking to pursue post-secondary education to become a social worker, while Enosi is exploring a career as a conservation officer.

While in Ottawa, the students stay at Algonquin College Residence and gain life skills through classes in CPR, public speaking and swimming. Their community work includes volunteering at the Ottawa Mission, Ottawa Health Service Network Inc. and Silver Spring Farm, which grows garlic in support of the Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OCAPDD).

Participants in the NYA Next program travel from as far away as Cambridge Bay and Taloyoak, communities located within the Arctic Circle. Participants like Haileigh-Ann Cardinal are enjoying spending time with other students in the same age group. Haileigh-Ann is from Tsiigehtchic, N.W.T. – a community of 200 – where there are only six students in her grade at school.

Three students stand to the right of a doghouse construction project; one student is kneeling in front.

L-R: Mackenzie Porter, Ili Gon and Haileigh-Ann Cardinal (front).

“I always thought I was an introvert but one thing I’ve discovered while I’ve been here is that I’m actually an extrovert,” she said.

Part of the NYA Next program requirements for each student is to complete a personal learning project on an area of interest. Preston Manuel from Norman Wells, N.W.T. is working towards getting his driver’s license and pursing a career in aviation or cooking. NYA is helping Preston to explore his career options navigate the post-secondary application process.

Two students stand to the left of a doghouse construction project; one student is holding two thumbs up.

L-R: Jayko Ejesiak and Preston Manuel.

This year, the NYA students hosted an event at the Mamidosewin Centre for the College community where they gave a presentation on their traditional cultures, including food, music, dancing and clothing. They also demonstrated traditional games like the Finger Pull game, which helped players strengthen their fingers for the fishing season. The students described the importance of sourcing traditional foods like fish, seal, caribou and whale, particularly with the challenges of high food prices in their home communities. They also spoke on the history of residential schools and the intergenerational impacts on retaining language and culture.

Spending time away from home and with other northern youth gives the students the opportunity to explore new activities and experiences, like riding a rollercoaster, paddleboarding, navigating a transit system, shopping at a mall and trying new foods.

“Through this experience I can be myself and do activities I can’t do back home,” said Mackenzie Porter, a participant from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut. “I enjoy meeting new people and learning new skills and how to use new tools … I feel like I can be anything.”

More information about the NYA Next program can be found on the NYA website.

 


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