Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (Aug 03/98) - To serve and protect -- that's the motto three young Iqaluit men adopted this summer after they were hired by the RCMP to help maintain law and order in Nunavut's capital.

And so far, they say it's going pretty good.

"I haven't patrolled yet. Right now they're just teaching the basics around the station, how to handle a nine- millimetre (gun) at the shooting range and self-defence," says Twerdin, 17, who is quick to explain that as summer students, they won't actually carry weapons.

But watch out because they will assist trained officers in making arrests -- although they won't have the power to enforce the law by themselves -- and they will not be used in confrontations unless it is absolutely necessary.

"I haven't encountered anything dangerous," says Twerdin.

Going into his final year of high school in Brandon, Manitoba, Twerdin always wanted to be an officer and says that he is seriously considering turning the summer job into a full-time career.

"It's a good experience and I jumped at the opportunity."

Joined by Teevee Qiatshuk, 18, and Randy Qamaniq, 19, each member of the trio is matched with an officer for the summer. They will also spend some time patrolling the town on bicycles donated by the Northern store.

Twerdin says it will help to raise public awareness and an appreciation for the summer student program.

"We'll go around town and talk to people, see what people think," says Twerdin, whose favorite part of the job is learning new things.

For Qiatshuk, patrolling during the night shift holds the most appeal.

"We've made a couple of arrests. Nothing that serious so far but some drunk driving and some drunkenness," says Qiatshuk. He hopes to attend Nunavut Arctic College's computer specialist program in the fall.

He admits however, that if he likes the work, he might just decide to go into policing full-time.

Qamaniq agrees with Qiatshuk and says that to date, the best part of the eight-week term is driving around and arresting people, but he adds that he originally applied for the job for other reasons.

"It was something different and I thought I'd try it out and see how it is," says Qamanaiq.

Program co-ordinator and supervisor Const. Jimmy Akavak says that after 10 years, the program is still getting better and proving itself to be an effective tool in securing the employment of people of aboriginal descent on the police force.

"It's geared towards Northerners and it will hopefully get them interested in the job after school," says Akavak, who notes that all three youths speak both English and Inuktitut and therefore bring something to the job many of the southern members can't.

"They're more involved with the community and the locals and they can help bridge the gap," says Akavak.

Funded by the GNWT and the Kakivak Association, the program runs on a budget of less than $15,000. It promotes job opportunities, education and helps young people choose routes that won't get them into trouble.

Twerdin sums up the program perfectly.

"By involving younger people, you give them direction as to what they want to do when they're older. I like to see this as a career goal. I could do anything."