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Look out Mr. Okalik

The UN today, territorial politics tomorrow

Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Hall Beach (May 14/01) - A collage of photographs triggers a memory.

"It was the longest two minutes of my life," joked Jayson Ikeperiar, scanning pictures from his trip to New York City last month.

But introducing Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister John Manley at the 2001 National Model United Nations Conference thrilled the 22-year-old Nunavut Arctic College student from Hall Beach.

Ikeperiar was one of nine Arctic College students who joined thousands of 20-something men and women from around the world for the UN symposium.

"I'd encourage all colleges and universities to look into this program because it really helps a student's self-esteem and self-confidence, especially for people interested in politics," he said.

Meeting heads of state and foreign students was a trip highlight, he said. Breathing deeply of the smoggy, fat-fried air was a close second.

Ikeperiar is one year into a two-year management studies program. After continuing with a political science degree, he wants to be a politician -- maybe even Nunavut's premier. So he joined the college's UN club. Eight months later, the soft-spoken Ikeperiar was club president and comfortably seated in the United Nations' Great Hall, learning about

UN protocol, casting votes, absorbing diplomatic jargon and cultivating a tolerance for crowded spaces.

"It was like being in a movie. The people, the buildings, the pace. Being on the subway was the greatest thing," he said.

Topics of discussion at this year's conference included world hunger, AIDS and poverty.

"International issues are related to issues we are facing here," Ikeperiar said. "Our leaders are going to fade and we'll need people in their place. It's time to get the new generation in progress."

Despite long hours of meetings, Ikeperiar took time out to climb the Empire State building, bump into people on the street and load up on hats and souvenirs. Each of his four brothers and four sisters received postcards from the Big Apple.

Charmed by the city's sights and sounds, returning to Canadian soil after one week in New York put him at ease.

"The greatest thing was walking into Canada Customs and the officer saying 'Welcome home,'" he said.