Federal civil servants visit Inuvialuit Settlement Region
'The range of experience was mind-blowing. It's been invaluable,' says Department of Natural Resources spokesperson
Sarah Ladik
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 24, 2016
INUVIK
More than a dozen civil servants got their first taste of the true North last week, despite working for agencies tasked with governing it.
Jean Tessier, left, Peggy Jay, and Col. Martin Frank say a fond farewell at the airport after a week spent touring the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo
|
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) has run the Executive Inuit Arctic Training Program for 14 years, rotating federal bureaucrats through one of Canada's four Inuit regions each year.
"There are a number of us who wouldn't have the opportunity to come North," Jean Tessier, who works in public affairs for the federal Department of Natural Resources.
"The range of experience was mind-blowing. It's been invaluable."
The idea behind the program is to give senior government officials the chance to learn about the Arctic and Inuit culture outside of the boardroom, according to the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation's Peggy Jay.
Over the course of the week, delegates visited several communities and met with groups like the Inuvialuit Game Council, Aurora College, the Canadian Rangers, and parks officials. The visitors came from a variety of departments, including National Defence, Indigenous and Northern Affairs, Health Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and Veterans' Affairs.
"They travelled in the region, meeting community leaders to learn of issues and challenges, whilst being exposed to the lifestyle in the Arctic including the culture and remoteness," said Jay.
"The officials leave with a greater appreciation of the challenges faced by Inuvialuit and Northerners living in the Arctic. Some may hold the Arctic as part of their portfolio, but never experienced life in the Arctic. With this better understanding, participants will hopefully work harder on behalf of Inuvialuit and Northerners in Ottawa."
Tessier said the drum dancing and community hospitality were two memorable things he will take away from the experience.
"It's a matter of getting perspective," he said.
"It's going to inform a lot of my thinking about the North."
For Jay, the highlight of the week was the warmth and hospitality of the communities. She said whenever the delegation was getting ready to leave, residents would ask them to stay longer, saying they still had more to show them.
She also noted participants on the trip were especially interested in the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway as it is a major federally-funded project happening in the region. When the program ran in 2004, Jay said visitors were interested in learning about oil and gas development.
"What will always stay with me is the vibrancy of the communities," Tessier said, adding he was probably the best test case for the program, as he had never been to the North before and had learned so much.
"Seeing the looks on the faces of the little kids, they were just beaming and that will stay with me."
