Rankin Inlet (Mar 16/05) - Six young people from Rankin Inlet who have dreams of starting and running their own businesses attended a Youth Entrepreneur Symposium (YES) in Calgary, Feb. 21-24.

Among the participants were Special Kusugak, Catherine Connelly, Geoffrey Kaludjak, Rickie Green, Angela Cook and Kelly Clark. The young people (you had to be under 35 to take part) made the trek thanks to the Kivalliq Inuit Association.

"It was really interesting," said Special Kusugak, 18. "There were lots of different guest speakers, and they told us, 'If you dream about opening a business, try your best, and have fun.'"

Kusugak wants to open a hair salon one day, and found the symposium inspiring.

It was also a busy few days for the participants who formed teams and took part in some friendly competition come up with slogans and make television commercials promoting their proposed businesses.

"We had to think of different ways to get people to buy our products," said Kusugak, whose team of eight placed third overall in the games, and won $1,000 for their efforts which they split eight ways.

Kusugak is now back in Rankin Inlet, working at the Wild Wolf Cafe, and doing some upgrading at high school before heading to Ottawa for the Nunavut Sivuniksavut program.

Her dream of one day owning her own hair salon is more within her grasp now thanks to the symposium experience.

"I always loved doing stuff with hair ever since I was young," said Kusugak.

The event was organized by the National Aboriginal Capital Corporation Association.

Guest speakers included Phoebe Sutherland who owns the Sweetgrass Bistro in Ottawa, and Harmony Rice, the publisher of Spirit Magazine.