Rankin Inlet (Mar 26/03) - A Kivalliq-based development corporation supplied a little student aid of its own this past week.

The Qamannituaq Development Corp. stepped up to provide the funding being sought by Michelle Jackson a Grade 10 student at Alaittuq High in Rankin Inlet to attend the Forum for Young Canadians in Ottawa.

The event is being held from April 26 until May 3.

Select students from across Canada will spend a week at the forum learning about politics and public affairs.

The students also get the opportunity to meet a number of our country's leaders, as well as see actual sittings of both the Senate and the House of Commons.

In making the cheque presentation to Jackson, 15, Ilagiiktut vice-president Nicole Sikma said the privately owned Inuit development firm is proud to sponsor youth participation in national events.

"Our development corporations sponsor and support many youth initiatives," said Sikma. "That's an important part in our role of helping to develop Nunavut."

Jackson said she found out about the program during a social class early in the school year and decided to apply.

"I always thought the government and its various processes are really neat and I always wanted to learn more about them," said Jackson.

"There isn't really any one area that appeals to me more than the others. I just sort of enjoy the whole thing."

Jackson said her idea of a dream job is to someday become the Governor General of Canada.

"I took a shine to the whole idea behind the position and Adrienne Clarkson has always been somewhat of a role model to me."

Rankin's Stella Kablalik was also selected to the forum and is actively soliciting funding to enable her to attend.

Jackson said she's looking forward to taking part in the different conferences and hearing the opinions of youth from across Canada on topics of importance to them.

She said she also hopes to meet Nunavut Liberal MP Nancy Karetak-Lindell and Senator Willie Adams while in Ottawa.

"Having representatives from Nunavut there will add to the conference.

"People in Southern Canada still don't know all that much about Nunavut.

"It's always good when you get the chance to educate other people about what life's really like here."