Daniel T'seleie
Northern News Services

Regina, Saskatchewan (Aug 15/05) - When Saimataq Sanguya went south last December she expected a long haul of number crunching.

But with a little guidance from her best friend's mother she realized her future lay in cosmetology, not accounting.

Now the 20-year-old mother of one from Clyde River is nearly halfway through a course which will make her a certified hairstylist.

"I want to go to Iqaluit and do hair," she said. "I thought everybody would like a hairdresser that's Inuk."

This plan is still a few years down the road. After her courses are finished in January, she wants to stay in Regina for a little while, despite the drawbacks.

"It's hot," Sanguya said. "My baby and I, we've been boiling."

When the heat gets to them, Sanguya and her 16-month-old daughter Janice like to take a dip in one of the city's swimming pools.

"She cries every time we get out of the pool. She loves it that much," she said.

Balancing school and a baby has been hard.

"It's the hardest thing, being a single mom."

Being pregnant almost kept her from graduating high school on time. She finished when she was three months pregnant.

"Everybody tells me I was really lucky," she said. "I always, always look on the bright side."

Things are working out well now, and Sanguya is getting rave reviews about her course work.

"I'm a star in school," she said.

Memories of home

While Regina will open career doors, Sanguya still misses her home town.

"I miss my family and everybody," she said.

She also misses the country food she used to eat every day.

Someone from Iqaluit has promised to bring her some caribou when he is in town for the Canada Summer Games, which started last week.

"I'm very happy about that because my baby never got to taste it," she said.