Nunavut program offers high-tech support for students:
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Apr 24/00) - Education and career opportunities are just a click away for Nunavut youth, thanks to SAY, a coalition of groups that have recently launched a Web site dedicated to helping young Northerners "fulfil their dreams."
The Internet has opened new doors to possibilities in education, giving students in the North access to a world of options - photo illustration by Merle Robillard
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Funding came through Ca*Net Institute, Kakivak Association, the hamlets of Pangnirtung, Clyde River, Pond Inlet and Iglulik (with help from Minister Kelvin Ng's department of sustainable development), Industry Canada's Community Access Program and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
The program was developed to "provide youth with information on educational and career strategies using Internet communication tools."
Through an interactive Web site, SAY helps students make career and education plans and find support they need when they leave the North to further their education.
There's a link on choosing a career, complete with ways to outline one's skills and interests, match those to jobs, find out what jobs are in demand, get ideas on where training is available and eligibility requirements.
How to pick a training program - in the North or at a southern educational institution - is also covered, and there are links to support on managing money, studying, finding support for one's efforts and finding work once training is complete.
Another key feature is that people can log into a chat room or catch a videoconferencing session between some Northern communities.
There are also links to some Web pages designed by young people from various communities.
Among them was Pond Inlet resident Mark Henderson, who, after attending a SAY training program in Iqaluit, told News/North in February that he can teach the Web design skills he learned to youth in his community and reach out to others from Pond Inlet through the Internet.
"I've learned a lot of valuable information and had a lot of fun," said Henderson.
"I'll be able to help and teach youth about computers and I'll be able to help people from Pond Inlet who are out of town and might be homesick."
He added that a good thing about the videoconferencing skills he has acquired is that if someone is homesick, they will be able to see him when they are speaking over the Internet.
Other program supporters include Tungasuvvingat Inuit (TI), which has allowed its experience in helping arctic students adjust to city living when studying in the south to be part of the SAY Web site, Ottawa-based Nunavut Sivuniksavut and the Digital Communications Network, created by NorthwesTel, Arctic Co-operatives Ltd. and NASCO, an Aboriginal Development Consortium.
