RANKIN INLET - For the first time in history, two Nunavut Land Claim beneficiaries will instruct the Community Aerodrome Radio Station (CARS) observer/communicator (O/C) program at Nunavut Arctic College's Kivalliq campus in Rankin Inlet.

Troy Sammurtok of Chesterfield Inlet will be teaching the radio-communications side of the Community Aerodrome Radio Station (CARS) observer/communicator program at Nunavut Arctic College's Kivalliq campus in Rankin Inlet. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

CARS facilities are equipped with meteorological instruments for monitoring and recording aviation surface weather, and communications equipment for providing information to pilots.

The O/C training is focused on radio simulations, communications and operating procedures, and weather observing and recording.

Troy Sammurtok of Chesterfield Inlet will instruct the radio side of the program, and Brenda Putulik of Repulse Bay will handle the weather.

Longtime instructor Bill Taylor said the college is proud of the two beneficiaries who have successfully trained to take over the course.

"The program used to be instructed in Fort Smith in the NWT, but we brought this portion to Rankin five years ago with southern instructors," said Taylor.

"Now it really belongs to Nunavut because it's beneficiaries running it. I'm happy to have worked myself out of a job because this is a real local success story."

Sammurtok, 38, is originally from Halifax, N.S., and has 14-years experience as an O/C. He said he was interested in Renewable Resources when he moved to Chester, but jumped at the chance when this position became available.

"This is an important job for every community and I look forward to passing on what I've learned," said Sammurtok.

"I would hope my knowledge and experience will benefit anybody looking to get into this field.

"The challenge is to learn how to effectively pass on your knowledge. It's one thing to know a subject, but it's another to explain it to a group of individuals."

Sammurtok said he's enjoyed training with Taylor.

He said he's looking forward to instructing his first group of students on his own.

"This can be a relatively lonely job, but that depends upon your station. Some sites are very busy and you don't have much down time. But, at stations with little traffic, you can have a lot of time on your hands."

Putulik, who was an O/C in Chester for about seven years, said teaching is in her blood because her family has a long history of passing on knowledge to others.

She said her great-grandmother was well-known for passing on knowledge, and her legacy was a positive influence on her life's choices.

"Going back to the explorers, my family was involved in teaching survival skills in the North, that type of thing," said Putulik.

"Learning and instructing are connected and the day you stop learning is the day you die. It doesn't matter if you're the one giving the information or absorbing it, it's the same perspective in my opinion.

"I'm instructing my first group of students now and I find it challenging. But I wouldn't be here if there was no challenge to what I'm doing."

Putulik, 35, said her philosophy is to treat people how you want to be treated.

She said she's received nothing but respect from her first students.

"Bill (Taylor) certified me and it's always a pleasure having him here. I have the utmost respect for him and I've always looked at him as a mentor."

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