ALERT - Four young Nunavummiut -- three from Resolute and one from Grise Fiord – have gone north rather than south for school, learning trades 800 km from the North Pole.

Paul Nungaq, 20, of Grise Fiord; Patrick Manik, 19, Inootiq Manik, 19, and Philip Manik Jr, 21, all of Resolute, are in an pre-trades apprenticeship program facilitated by Arctic College at CFS Alert, working three months in, five weeks out to learn a trade of their choice.

As for their duties, "It varies," said Philip Manik Jr., adding the four rotated through different areas, trying their hands at various tasks before selecting a trade specialization. They were each selected by their communities for the apprenticeship opportunity after graduating from Grade 12.

Jim Wall, the site manager for Canadian Base Operators, said the apprenticeship program is part of the company's contract stipulations to have 10 per cent Inuit employment at Alert -- four employees.

Wall said the success of the program so far lies in its flexibility. Though Arctic College sets the curriculum, "We can manipulate the course to suit a candidate's needs," he said.

At the moment, Alert has a couple on staff – one a retired teacher, the other, a retired power plant technician -- who have taken the apprentices under their wing. After three months of schooling in subjects such as math and sciences, the four began spending half the day in class and half the day on the job. All four chose to study power generation at the station's diesel plant, which is similar to those used in Nunavut communities.

According to Inootiq Manik, the novelty of living at the northernmost permanent settlement in the world wears off as the isolation takes its toll.

"It gets old real quick," he said.

However there's a gym, activities, games and movies shown in the station's theatre twice a week.

Plus, "there's different people with every plane," said Philip Manik.

All four said they planned on following up the program with more study, and Philip Manik plans to attend university.

Wall credited the students' commitment and the station environment for focusing their efforts.

"There's few distractions and they fit in with the station."