Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Arctic Bay (June 13/05) - Young people are not always taken seriously by their elders, especially when it comes to running a business.

So in 2000, when Arctic Bay youth were deciding what to name their organization, they chose Nunavut Youth Consulting because it sounded professional.

Arctic Bay's Bernie Attagutsiak, 21, left, and Becky May, 16, are two of 32 members of award-winning Nunavut Youth Consulting. The group was named business of the year by the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce at the Nunavut Trade show last month.

Now when businesses in the community are hiring or looking for help, they turn to the youngsters first.

Last month, the non-profit organization and its 32 members, were named Business of the Year by the Baffin Regional Chamber of Commerce at the Nunavut Trade Show in Iqaluit.

"It made me feel really good, because I've been a part of this group for a while now and we haven't had anything like this," said Bernie Attagutsiak, a 21-year-old group member.

In the future, Attagutsiak would like to act, direct and write his own movies. He is working on a script right now and the group has secured the required equipment.

Until recently, the company was also connecting Arctic Bay to the world as the community internet service provider.

Through making extensive use of volunteer hours the business managed to break even.

Every year, the group gets together in January and February to plan projects for the upcoming year.

Usually members accomplish their goals, said chairperson Ron Elliott.

"Sometimes these guys don't really realize what they're actually doing," said the group's chairperson.

Current projects include compiling and publishing a book of poetry on a variety of topics such as jobs, mental health and suicide.

The group also continues to run what is known as the Community Access Program, a centre providing free access to computers and the internet.

Youth in Arctic Bay join the consulting firm for different reasons.

"I just wanted to be in a group that did stuff and finished what they were going to do," said 16-year-old Becky May. "It's helped me out a lot. I've learned to set goals for myself and organize what we're going to do."

May is not sure what the future holds for her, but knows she would like to do something allowing her to travel and to help people in the North.