Sanikiluaq (Oct 23/06) -A new Aboriginal Peoples Television Network series has a Northern link in Nunavut.

Sanikiluaq's Jessie Fraser, 16, is one of the hosts of The Link, a new youth-oriented series run nationally on APTN. Fraser wrapped up taping the first 32 episodes of the 65-episode season this summer.

"It has been very good," she said. "We had lots of fun when we were filming the episodes."

Each week, she and her co-host, Scarborough, Ont.'s Matt Bernard, select and present three music videos with a subtle link between them. The show also serves as a link between aboriginal youth, as it shows short films submitted by youth from around the country.

This bond extends to Fraser and Bernard; Fraser teaches Bernard, a Metis, about Inuit culture.

"One feature is 'What's in Your Amauti?'" she said. "I put on my amauti and I take out something from my culture."

"I've already pulled out ulus. I also taught (Bernard) how to throat sing."

In a clip on The Link's website (www.thelinktv.ca), the experience is captured for all to see, as both hosts collapse with laughter at Bernard's attempts.

"He sounded like a dying cat," she joked.

"He's so funny. I like working with him," she said of Bernard. "There were many times when he had to do retakes because I just ended up laughing."

Fraser said the show has been an interesting ride, which required a lot of filming and preparation in Sanikiluaq.

"I filmed some shots of the land, and when I got (to Toronto) I went to powwows, and I got an interview with Roberta Jamieson, the (CEO) of the National Aboriginal achievement foundation."

"That was really cool," she said. "I can't wait to see it on TV."

She said every episode is new to her, because she hasn't seen the videos youth have sent in yet.

"We watch it every day, my parents and me and my sister."

"It was mind blowing. My mom actually started crying," she said of watching the first episode.

Fraser said her previous work on APTN's Road Scholars helped prepare her for her new role. The series sent aboriginal youth around the world to film their experiences. Fraser was sent to Mexico, where she was met by a surprise visitor: Hurricane Emily.

"That was real scary. I called my dad as soon as I heard. I just started crying."

"I've only ever heard about hurricanes and extreme weather on TV," she said. "Up here it's basically just cold."

As she gets ready to film the next 35 episodes of the season, Fraser said she hopes youth latch on to the show.

"We really want aboriginal teenagers and youth to send their stuff in," she said.

"We're trying to link everyone together."