PANNIQTUUQ/PANGNIRTUNG - Students who participated in the Pangnirtung Skills Link (PSL) project have completed the construction of a cabin they built for their community.

The PSL project, which was 12 weeks long and open to youth aged 16 to 30, was part of the Making Connections organization for youth in Pangnirtung.

Here is the inside of the cabin built by Pangnirtung Skills Link students in May. - photo courtesy of Chris Heide

The crew was made up of six local youth who were interested in learning carpentry and small-scale construction skills over the summer. Their lessons consisted of classroom training combined with hands-on experience like building the cabin. Chris Heide, co-ordinator for Making Connections, said constructing the cabin was the most popular aspect of the entire program.

"Building the cabin took two or three weeks so they did quite a few other things while they were on that project as well," Heide said. "But building that cabin, when I was speaking to them later, that's still what they remembered as the highlight."

It was constructed at Avituktu Lake near the community, a location given to the group by the Hunters and Trappers Association.

"There had previously been a cabin in that area but that had blown away so they gave us a slightly different location to put it," Heide said, laughing. "Hopefully this one will remain."

The group hopes the cabin will be used for spring camp activities that are put on by the schools each spring, but it is available to anyone who wants to use it.

"Avituktu is also a very popular lake so when people are up there and the weather turns or if they just need a place to get indoors, the cabin is not too far from the lake," Heide said.

The PSL was mainly funded by Human Resources Skills Development Canada, but the District Education Authority and the Nunavut Department of Culture, Language Elders, and Youth contributed as well. Arctic College and Attagoyuk school provided additional support, such as a pre-trades instructor from the college to instruct the students. Local elders assisted as well.

Sylvia Qulitalik, manager of youth programs for CLEY said the program is a valuable way for youth and elders to come together.

"It's important for youth to have a program where they are able to connect with their culture and their traditions," she said.

Heide said the goal of the program was to provide students with skills the community needs, such as carpentry.

Robbie Akpalialuk, 19, participated in the program. He now works for the hamlet as a security guard at the bridges that were destroyed during the flood last month. He ensures people do not try and use them.

He said the building experience taught him skills he can apply to his own projects.

"I learned how to build a shack of my own," Akpalialuk said.

The group will also be assisting in the renovations of the Pangnirtung Youth Centre in the fall.