Coppermine (Mar 22/04) - Jennifer Gray Gigi Tompson's eyes sparkle passionately when she speaks about her family's business.

With a young Audrey Hepburn's good looks and Leslie Caron's most famous role, Gigi, as a middle name, Tompson is a self-described "bush rat."

"I've been in camps all my life. Since I was three years old," she says.

Her father was a helicopter bush pilot and her mother was a camp cook prior to her mother starting the family business, 1984 Enterprises Inc.

It's not an Orwellian plot or a front, Tompson says, smiling.

Tompson has read through George Orwell's greatest work, admitting that it is a little odd that one of her family's associated businesses specializes in security systems, tying in with Orwell's Big Brother is Watching theme.

Having worked in the North since the late 70s, Tompson's mother, Lise Tompson, is well known among Northern exploration and aviation types.

"We started in '79 and from there we proceeded to get into the medical side and addressing and meeting the needs of geologists," Lise Tompson said from her office in Vancouver.

One evening prior in Yellowknife, while awaiting clear weather so she could fly to a camp, Jennifer admitted to being a little nervous, never having been interviewed before.

Her newfound friend and co-worker from Kugluktuk, Beatrice Oniak, sat quietly while Tompson launched vigorously into describing what she does.

Having worked as a camp cook for most of her life, Tompson is going to be providing additional camp cook training to Oniak at the Wolfden Resources' High Lake camp, located 175 km west of Kugluktuk.

Tompson's 1984 Enterprises specializes in staffing, first aid and support for camps.

She is looking to employ and train as many Northerners as she can for Northern exploration camps.

"We want to ensure an ongoing source of local hires for camps operating out of Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. Eventually, we hope to have the trainees become the trainers and allow for 100 per cent Nunavut input," she says.

The Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KIA) has been key to 1984's success.

"The KIA's Barbara Olson has helped assist us by sending resumes," says Tompson.

While Oniak is new to 1984, she has had some experience working in camps before, having worked for Diavik and Ekati in the past. Nevertheless, Oniak will still receive 1984's training program.

"I told some of my friends it's not too far from home. It's only a half an hour by plane," she says.

Oniak's shifts will run for two weeks in and two weeks out, but Tompson is at camp for as long as they need her.

"I go until they let me out. It's usually six weeks in and out for two, but this time will only be one month," she says.