Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Iqaluit (Mar 17/03) - Joshua Kiguktak has travelled across the country. Kiguktak joined Katimavik, a national youth service learning program, in 2001.

He left his home in Iqaluit in September of that year and returned in April 2002. He spent time in Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Manitoba. He travelled with 10 other people and tried to teach them a little about his culture.

"They didn't know about my traditions. I taught them my language and my culture through telling stories about life up here," he said.

Kiguktak, 21, was surprised at how little his peers knew about Nunavut.

At the same time, Kiguktak was glad to have a chance to learn about the rest of Canada. The first time he travelled south was about two weeks before the Katimavik program was to start.

Kiguktak said he still keeps in touch with the 10 other people in his group. They lived together in all three different provinces that they visited and became very close.

"There would be two house managers each week. Those people had to do the shopping, make breakfast, lunch and dinner, and stick to a low budget," he said.

During his travels Kiguktak took a French course, volunteered with the elderly and disabled and cleaned churches.

He said he learned leadership and how to get to know people.

"I gained a lot of confidence. I'm more confident that I can do this or I can do that," he explained.

Kiguktak grew up in Grise Fiord and Pond Inlet. He moved to Iqaluit five years ago with his parents for employment reasons.

He eventually wants to enrol in the environmental technology program at Nunavut Arctic College.

He plans to stay in Iqaluit because his travels helped him realize there's no place like home.

Youth who are Canadian citizens between the ages of 17 to 21 can apply to participate in Katimavik.