TULITA/FORT NORMAN - Allison Bernarde's friends were jealous when she was offered a page position at the legislative assembly - an opportunity she readily accepted without knowing exactly what to expect. She couldn't pass up a chance to mingle with political leaders in the capital city, after all.

"It could be a once-in-a-lifetime thing," she explained.

Surrounded by MLAs gathered in the circular room, the 15 year old from Tulita quickly discovered that the undertakings of a page, though noble, were not so glamorous.

"I thought we'd do different stuff," she said. "I didn't think we'd have to get them water, but it was still fun."

Bernarde, a Grade 10 student, was one of nine youth from across the territory to participate in a three-day page program Oct. 14 to 16 through the Junior Canadian Rangers program.

Along with Nadine Elleze of Fort Providence, Myranda Calumet of Fort Resolution, Issac Elanik and Kyle Wolki of Sachs Harbour, Bryan Kimiksana and Samantha Kataoyak of Ulukhaktok, and Frederick Simpson of Whati, Bernarde's duties included hanging up the members' coats, filling their water glasses and delivering notes for them while the assembly was in session.

The pages arose everyday at 6 a.m., donned their Junior Rangers uniforms, and - after a training session detailing the functions of the assembly - they took up their posts, ready to be called upon as they observed territorial governance in action.

Bernarde said she didn't know a lot about the legislative assembly at first, but learning about it from an insiders' point of view was "exciting."

"I know more than I did before," she said. "It was fun for me."

The most challenging part, she said, was delivering important messages to employees throughout the building.

"We had to look around and ask where to find this certain person," Bernarde said, adding she might want to work at the legislative assembly herself someday.

Grade 12 student Bryan Kimiksana said he would also consider getting more involved on a political level after his experience as a page, though getting used to the customs of the assembly was a bit tricky at first. He laughed as he recalled the opening of the assembly after lunch on his second day as a page: he heard the house bells ringing and watched the sergeant-at-arms carry the mace to the clerk's table, sitting oblivious to those standing all around him.

"One of my friends, he was really laughing looking at me and I looked to the side of him and the guy that was teaching us was telling me to stand up," Kimiksana said.

He soon got over the embarrassment of his little faux pas and threw himself into his page duties, enjoying the whole experience.

"It was awesome," he said. "Almost like going to school, but better."