Sanikiluaq (Mar 14/05) - Daniel Narlik has watched a dream come to life over the last few months.

With dry wall, plaster and a lot of hard work, Narlik and 10 other young carpenters-in-training are finishing a new house.

"Nunavut students should build houses, too," said Narlik last week.

The Nunavut Housing Corporation provided Sanikiluaq's non-profit Najuqsivik Society with materials. Construction of the house started the first week of September 2004.

Now, the three-bedroom house is almost done. It will be finished in the spring, Narlik said.

Narlik, 21, works at the Co-op store when he is not working on the house.

The house job and the school work that goes along with it takes up his days from 8:30 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

"It's hard, but it's easy," he said laughing. "Next we're going to be 'mudding', to cover all the screws. That's the best part." After the mudding, all that will be left is sanding then painting.

"It's going really good," Narlik said.

"We need houses. Big time."

Narlik, born and raised in Sanikiluaq, said he has seen families getting more and more crowded in their houses over the years.

He feels he is making a major contribution to his community by building a new house.

This will be the second house he has helped built. With the skills he has gained, it probably won't be the last.

The young carpenters work with Nuiyak school and a journeyman/carpenter teacher.

Major supporters include Arthur Lebsack, housing association foreman, who inspects the job every day.

Allan Rumbort, housing association manager, provided assistance and allowed the oil burner mechanic to install the furnace.

"They are doing all aspects except installing the furnace and the electrical," said principal of Nuiyak school John Jamieson.

"Half the day is spent learning math and science and language based on the project, the other half is spent working on the house."

Jamieson is thrilled with the young workers and hopes other communities in Nunavut will take on similar house building projects to solve Nunavut's on-going housing crisis.

The house will become the property of Sanikiluaq's Qammaq Housing Association.

Plans are already under way to build another structure in the community.