BYLINE: by
Northern News Services
Published Monday, July 21, 2008

WHITEHORSE - The hours are long, but nothing stops Tina Tautuajuk from proclaiming that she likes everything about the Junior Canadian Rangers summer training camp in Whitehorse.

Many a 16-year-old might shy away from 6 a.m. wake-up calls, but for Tautuajuk, it's worth the payoff - days packed with activities including whitewater rafting, horseback riding, rappelling, and canoeing and river rescue.

"Most of them are my favourites," said the Pangnirtuurmiut who has been with the Junior Rangers for five years and is on her second summer training camp.

Tautuajuk said she has learned a lot, listing water safety and fast water safety as a couple of the skills she acquired in the camp that ran from July 5 to 13 and brought together Junior Rangers from the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

For Tautuajuk, the camp is about independence.

"You learn how to be on your own and make new friends," said Tautuajuk, who hopes to follow in the footsteps of her mother and become a Ranger one day.

Also among the 80 Nunavummiut Junior Rangers attending camp is Talurjuarmiut Johnny Ukuqtunnuaq, 13.

It was Ukuqtunnuaq's first time at camp and first time in Whitehorse. He wanted to attend camp because he had heard it was fun.

He learned camping skills and how to be careful with rifles. His favourite activity was whitewater rafting.

The routine is a vigorous, military one.

Junior Rangers wake at 6 a.m., followed by a head count at 6:30 and then breakfast. By about 8 a.m. they are shipped off to various events for the day, most of them eating their lunches on the spot.

They return to the base camp at 5 p.m. Supper is at 6 p.m. and is followed by evening activities that include movies, drum making and ATV riding safety. By 9 p.m. Junior Rangers are back at camp and it's lights out at 10:30 p.m.

Canadian Ranger Abraham Qammaniq of Hall Beach was one of 15 Nunavummiut Rangers that supervised the Junior Rangers.

Qammaniq said for many of the kids aged 12 to 18, this camp is the first time they have been away from their families.

"Basically it's very many things that they're learning at the same time about their roles, leadership and the way the (military) system runs here," said Qammaniq.

It was Qammaniq's second time supervising summer training camp and he saw a difference in the Junior Rangers' confidence as they progressed through the camp.

"A lot are nervous (at the beginning). They don't know anybody, they're shy and keep to themselves. By the end of the week, they're pretty well all friends. They're more confident," he said.

Qammaniq added that the camp provides special opportunities since there is only so much that can be done in the smaller communities. The camp also exemplifies what the Junior Ranger program is about.

"It's life skills plus survival skills out there," he said.