Cultural exchange
B.C. youth group makes trip to Rankin

Maria Canton
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (Aug 02/00) - Kids from the west coast made their way North last week.

Eight youth and two chaperons flew into the Kivalliq region from Vancouver, B.C., to participate in an eight-day exchange.

Spearheaded by Vancouver youth worker Peter Chisholm, the group went hunting, fishing, camped near Diane River, and learned stories and survival skills from elders.

"I initially got the idea because I have a long-time friend who lives here," said Chisholm, who works at the Ambleside Youth Centre in West Vancouver.

"I think seeing the cultural contrast between the two groups of young people is very valuable -- this trip will really give the youth an expanded vision of the world and particularly Canada."

That "expanded" vision began at 29,000 feet as the group was flying into the community.

"At first I was seeing icebergs and then iced-over water and then just flat land with water everywhere," said participant Katrina Thomson, who was preparing for the camping trip.

"I didn't know what to expect when I got here, but I've always been interested in Inuit culture and heritage."

Many hours of work locally ensured that part one of the project went smoothly. Eight youth from Rankin travel to Vancouver Aug. 27 for part two.

Jacintha Howard, program co-ordinator for the Drop-in Centre, wants to thank the youth for helping to fund-raise.

"We had a lot of work to do and thanks to the youth we really did a lot," said Howard.

"It will be the first time south for some of our participants and they're taking us canoeing, hiking and camping."

Howard says the exchange is a cross-cultural experience in which the youth will learn the traditional ways of life in the North versus the modern way of today.

The majority of funding for the project was secured through the YMCA's Youth Visions Program, which is paying airfare for both groups. Money raised will go towards food and incidentals.