FORT LIARD - Three students from Echo Dene school in Fort Liard have skills of which they can be proud.

Jonathan Duntra, Cheryl Bertrand and Briana Kotchea competed in the ninth annual Territorial Skills Competition in Yellowknife on April 19.

Faced with competition from Yellowknife students Duntra won a silver medal in the job skills demonstration while Kotchea and Bertrand teamed up to win a bronze medal in T.V. and video production.

Mitchell Berreault and Danny Edda also entered the competition in the small powered equipment category.

This is the first year that students from Fort Liard have entered in the competition.

Organized by Skills Canada NWT, the competition is a way for students and other people to see what youth are capable of.

"It's a chance for youth to measure their own skills," said Jan Fullerton, executive director of Skills Canada NWT.

The competition also promotes careers that are available in the skilled trades and allows students to network with industry contacts, Fullerton said.

This year high school students and young apprentices from across the NWT and some Nunavut communities competed in 17 trade and technology contests.

Jonathan Duntra, 15, was competing in a new category. This was the first time that job skills demonstration has been offered as a category in the territory.

Participants are required to make a half an hour presentation on how to do their chosen job. Judging is based on technical accuracy and presentation abilities, said Fullerton.

Duntra chose to demonstrate his skills with electrical wiring, something he's been learning in the technology in the workplace program at Echo Dene school. During his presentation on how to wire switches and light bulbs, Duntra said he didn't feel pressured.

Duntra said he felt happy about winning a silver medal.

Briana Kotchea, 14, and Cheryl Bertrand, 16, displayed a completely different set of skills.

In the T.V. and video production category the students were given six hours to film their own footage and make a short video clip documentary.

Using their own video camera and computer the girls decided to make an urban jungle scene by filming people walking by and editing in animal sounds

"It was the funniest video that was entered in," said Bertrand.

It took only half an hour for the girls to make their two-minute movie. Both used skills they'd learned on their own. Their previous movie creations have been music videos made for their own enjoyment.

Bertrand and Kotchea said they were excited to win a bronze medal. Both hope to compete again next year.

All three students encourage others to try the competition.

"It was fun," said Bertrand.