A tradesman in the making
Justin Memogana on his way to carpentry certification
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Monday, March 7, 2016
ULUKHAKTOK/HOLMAN
Justin Memogana knows the choices he makes now will have a lasting impact on the lives of his three little girls.
Ulukhaktok's Justin Memogana, left, poses with his brother, Chad Memogana, as members of the Ulukhaktok Western Drummers and Dancers. Memogana left home and travelled to Fort Smith in February to take the trades access program at Aurora College. - photo courtesy of Justin Memogana |
That's why the 27-year-old from Ulukhaktok left home last month to take the Trades Access Program at Aurora College in Fort Smith.
"I'm mainly doing this for my education so I can have a better future for my daughters," he said.
The six-month program will help him get ready for his next step - the Trades Access II program. Completing both programs will mean he will be eligible to write a Trades Entrance Exam.
Memogana said he wants to become a carpenter.
"I was interested in taking this program because I wanted to upgrade my education," he said. "I want to try to get into carpentry."
His next step would be to complete Aurora College's apprenticeship carpenter program.
Once he finishes his education, Memogana said he wants to return to Ulukhaktok and put his skills to use building homes.
"I want to get into contracting so I can start doing contracting back home," he said. "It's definitely short of houses back home."
Memogana said he enjoys working with his hands and has often helped friends and family build shacks. Becoming a certified carpenter would allow him to do something he loves and live in his home community.
"I always loved building stuff, making stuff out of wood," he said. "If I could get a good job with carpentry, I could probably do carpentry back home."
Memogana is also a leader of the Ulukhaktok Western Drummers and Dancers group. He said it was a tough decision to take a break from the group to attend school.
"I want to give a shout out to my drum dance group back home, tell them I miss them and I hope they're doing well without me," he said.
So far, Memogana said he is enjoying the program.
"The instructors here are very nice and very outgoing people," he said.
He's even earned a student of the month award for his work in English.
He said though he misses his family and friends in Ulukhaktok, he knows he made the right choice.
"I'm doing fine and everything is going really smooth here," he said.
