Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Arviat (Oct 30/02) - The doors of opportunity continue to open for Arviat's John Main.

The 22-year-old Qitiqliq High graduate is one of four siblings, and holds a bachelor's degree in economics from New Brunswick's Mount Allison University.

Main is preparing to head to Paris, France, where he'll be working in partnership with the National Museum on Natural History on a documentary of the traditional knowledge of Inuit women.

He will also be doing some work on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization's Links project, which incorporates aboriginal knowledge into law and governmental organizations.

"The museum will be using footage obtained in Sanikiluaq to create the documentary," says Main.

"I'll be primarily helping them with Inuktitut."

Main is going to Paris on the federal government's Youth International Internship project.

France won't be his first international experience, however.

Last year he travelled to Oslo, Norway, through his university program to take classes related to international business at the Norwegian School of Business Management.

"I really enjoyed my time overseas and was looking to gain some more international exposure, so I applied to this program through the Native Law Centre at the University of Saskatchewan.

"I hope to be given some creative freedom in helping with the actual layout of the film, as opposed to simply translating.

"I feel I can be a positive influence on their work over there."

Main will be in Paris this coming week and is excited over the opportunity to learn about another culture.

The multi-talented young professional says he wants to bring back what he learns in Europe so that, hopefully, that knowledge will be of future use to his fellow residents of Arviat and Nunavut.

Main says he doesn't travel to run away from Arviat. He travels to improve himself through education.

"Education is the key to advancing with your life and Grade 12 is just the first step.

"The more education you get, the more doors open for you.

"The more kids who understand that, the more we'll see go on to further their education."