Inuvik (Oct 27/03) - Emsley Nasogaluak never tires of watching geese. He admires their powerful wings and their ability to fly anywhere they choose.

Emsley Nasogaluak can't wait to fix helicopters like the ones he reads about in the flying magazines he can't resist buying. - Erin Fletcher/NNSL photo

"I'm just fascinated with geese flying," said Nasogaluak, a 26-year-old from Tuktoyaktuk.

"The only part of hunting I like is geese hunting because it's a skill to shoot something in the air. I think that's why I'm obsessed with aviation."

Now he's making an education out of his obsession.

Nasogaluak decided to move to Inuvik to complete his high school diploma at Aurora College this year. Once he's done he wants to enrol in the two-year Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program in Yellowknife to study the art of aviation.

Going back to school wasn't an easy decision and it isn't an easy task.

"The hardest thing is getting caught up and getting into the rhythm where I last left off," said Nasogaluak, who left Grade 11 eight years ago.

Besides his admiration for geese, Nasogaluak was also inspired by his father and spurred on by his age.

"My age was starting to bug me," he smiled.

"I always wanted to work in aviation.

"But to work with aviation you need a good education because you have lives in your hands."

Probably Nasogaluak's biggest sacrifice for school is not being able to go out on the land.

He has lived most of his life in Tuktoyaktuk. He fished, hunted and did a lot of wandering.

His most memorable hunt was on his 16th birthday.

"My birthday present was a polar bear tag. It was pretty neat," he said.

Although he's seen polar bears before, he'd never hunted one. "It's a really serious hunting trip," he said.

"It was different shooting something that big. I'm used to geese and small animals. I was shaking pretty bad when I hit it."

He brought the big bear down and his dad has the hide for safe-keeping.

He'd like a crack at a polar bear again but for now he's dedicated to keeping his nose in the books and his dreams in the air.