James Hrynyshyn
Northern News Services

Coppermine (July 29/02) - There may not be any such thing as "the real thing," but Kugluktuk's Floyd Kaitak has found the next best thing.

On July 21, he and 24 other students graduated from the first-ever mill process program at Aurora College. Organized by Diavik Diamond Mines as a way to get Northerners trained to work at the mine's process plant, the program included job offers upon graduation.

So does Kaitak intend to stay with Diavik for a year or so? "Probably more than a few years," he replies.

It's a big change from the situation a few months ago when he was spending most of his at home with the his wife, Laverna, and their newborn son, Keenan, now 15 months old.

"I was just sitting around the house and an employment officer came over and asked if I wanted to take this course," recalls Kaitak.

"I did."

It wasn't easy. Of more than 50 applicants to the program, only 30 were accepted. Entry also required a good grade on a pre-trades exam and surviving the scrutiny of a screening committee.

Then came three months of instruction, using customized software written for Diavik's new plant, which were compressed into six weeks. Students spent 10 hours a day, seven days a week, studying in three two-week sessions. Five students didn't make it.

Now that he's about to start working for Diavik, he'll be back on another two-weeks-in, two-weeks-out schedule. It sounds a little tough, but it does give him extended periods with his family.

Eventually, though, diamonds will have to take a back seat to Kaitak's real love: getting out on the land.

"I'd like to get into the tourism business at some point in my life," says the 25-year-old avid hunter. "If I get the chance, I'd like to open an outfitting business for sport hunters."

As it stands now, "I'm out there on the land every chance I get," he adds.