Iqaluit (Nov 22/04) - Betty Elgok has worked for the hamlet of Kugluktuk for 10 years and knows a lot about running the day-to-day operations of her hamlet office. But since completing a six-day Introduction to Computers course in Kugluktuk, Oct. 18-23 -- offered through the Municipal Training Organization (MTO) -- Elgok said she feels more confident in her job as finance water/sewer clerk.

"It was a good idea," said Elgok. "I've been with the hamlet a long time. I knew a lot of things, but there are some things I didn't know."

The MTO has now held 26 courses in all of Nunavut's 25 communities this year.

There are more to come from now until 2007, a target date for getting every hamlet worker trained and ready for the future. Chuck Gilhuly is one of the chief creators of the MTO, a non-profit organization jointly run by Community and Government Services and the Nunavut Association of Municipal Administrators (NAMA).

Nunavut Arctic College (NAC) offers classroom space and instructors to MTO in most communities now.

Gilhuly -- who was working on his MBA a few years ago when the idea for creating the training group came to him -- thinks the courses are essential for the survival of hamlets.

"Look in the paper right now," said Gilhuly. "You can watch the cycles of SAOs turning over. That's the issue. These guys come up here, some do a great job, but nothing is being transferred."

Right now, Coral Harbour and Iglulik SAOs are leaving, Kimmirut and Hall Beach SAOs are term positions, the Qikiqtarjuaq and Kugluktuk hamlets are under GN supervision because they fell into massive financial problems, and Repulse Bay just opened a new hamlet office.

"If you go back a year probably, over half the municipalities have turned over their SAOs," said Gilhuly.

These MTO courses are intended specifically to train community members, like Elgok in Kugluktuk, who are going to stay and work in the North.

The goal is less turnover of hamlet staff and hamlets that are more successful in avoiding debt.

Every hamlet has now taken the core courses: management communications, introduction to computers, introduction to Northern government, human resource management and public sector finances.

Specialty courses

There are then a series of specialty courses delivered regionally. Those are designed for finance officers, assistant SAOs, office administrators, works foremen, planning and lands administrators, recreation leaders and community economic development officers.

The design and delivery of these programs took a long time to come together.

But Mac Clendenning, the president of NAC, is one person who is pleased it all worked out, despite the challenges over the years.

"We worked closely with the MTO to develop the curriculum," said Clendenning. "We provide certification. They get a record of achievement from the college and the credits are transferrable within the college."

Elwood Johnston, SAO in Kugaaruk, is another instrumental MTO member who is thrilled to see community members getting training.

He wants to see more Inuit take over hamlet jobs, including his own.

"It took a lot of blood and sweat over the last 10 years, but we finally did it," Johnston said.