Kirsten Murphy
Northern News Services

Arctic Bay (Oct 08/01) - A national magazine for teens has introduced a decidedly Nunavut flavour to its publication.

Readers of The Edge magazine will meet National Hockey League draft pick Jordin Tootoo next month. The 50-page publication with editors and writers across Canada is printed once a year in Alberta.

Jesse Shooyook sits on a snowmobile at home in Arctic Bay. Shooyook is one of two Nunavummiut featured in the upcoming issue of The Edge magazine. National Hockey League draft pick Jordin Tootoo is the other. - photo courtesy of Ron Elliott

The five-year-old magazine hits stands and high schools across the country in November. The article on Tootoo was penned by Arctic Bay teen Sheena Qaunaq.

"I'm really excited to see something I wrote in a magazine going across Canada," Qaunaq said. "Southerners don't know much about Nunavut so this is one way to communicate."

Jesse Shooyook, also of Arctic Bay, talks about the conflict between Southern eduction values and traditional Inuit culture in the 2001 issue. His thoughts are included in a national look at high school drop out rates.

What's the big deal? It's the first time in publishing history that a career magazine for youth includes and promotes Nunavut input. Success stories such as Nunavut Sivuniksavut graduates and Katimavik participants will be featured.

Not only is the magazine designed to inspire and encourage teens -- it's proof career paths are not created equally.

This is how it works:

The Canadian Career Development Foundation, a branch of Human Resources Development Canada, launched the magazine in 1996. After enduring its own growing pains, magazine editors wanted more Northern content.

Enter Ron Elliott.

The former Arctic Bay teacher became The Edge's Nunavut field liaison officer a year ago. The position is essentially an editor who co-ordinates writers and story ideas.

Until then, there was no Nunavut content.

Elliott's job is to transfer what's on the minds of Nunavummiut youth onto the magazine's pages.

So far, so good.

"We've formed a youth editorial board. It acts as a springboard for ideas," Elliott said.

"I'm always looking for new members from across Nunavut."

The board is composed of 10 youth from Panniqtuuq and Arctic Bay.

The stories on Tootoo and Shooyook are just the beginning. "I can only see the Nunavut content growing," Elliott said.

"The idea is Inuit youth will be inspired by Jordin Tootoo and maybe make their own sacrifices to succeed. The goal is not to judge, whether a person drops out or goes to university."

Stories are filed from across Canada over several months. The target market is youth 15 to 18 years old. The magazine is de-signed in Ontario, printed in Alberta and distributed once a year each fall from New Brunswick.

The Edge's managing editor, Donnalee Bell, in Ottawa had nothing but praise. "The Nunavut team is fabulous. We're fortunate," she said.

For his part, Elliott is in awe of the dozens of people required to co-ordinate a national magazine. "It's also very satisfying," he said.