Brent Reaney
Northern News Services

Rankin Inlet (July 20/05) - The roar of ATVs on Rankin streets and people coming home from parties keep Travis Palvialok awake during the summer.

"When I'm in town I stay up practically all night and sleep during the day," he says.

For him, sleep comes easier on the land.

Palvialok and about a dozen other people took part in this year's char run camp, held about 90 minutes outside Rankin, July 5-9.

Speaking in the alley behind the Siniktarvik Hotel where he works as a dishwasher, the 18-year-old says getting away from the speed and problems of modern life is like medicine which helps him think more clearly.

"One main thing I'd like to get away from is TV," he says, reluctantly adding smoking is a habit he carries out on the land, though he is trying to quit. Elders attend the camp to teach cultural and survival skills. But Palvialok says the older kids also have lessons for the younger ones. "We try to teach them not to fight over things and we try to teach them to listen to the older ones," he said.

In Grade 10, and planning to return to school in August, he says the classroom has not been able to include the type of cultural education youth receive during land trips.

"They try to, but it doesn't happen," he says.

"More youth should be going for this program. You learn more about Inuit culture."

A second camp, funded by the department of Culture Language Elders and Youth, is scheduled for the fall.

Organizer Noah Tiktak says the program is so popular he has to turn people away.

"Everybody wants to go, and nobody wants to come back," he says.

But after the fall camp, Tiktak is unsure if money for future camps will be made available.

He is still waiting to hear about the renewal of Heritage Canada funding for other youth programs.

With many kids not having people willing or able to take them out of town, Tiktak believes in the self- respect, self-esteem and confidence these programs can give them.

"They just need somebody to teach them, guide them, and to encourage them. TV's not going to do that for you."