In September, Bobbie Jo Greenland will be trading her Inuvik office space for a desk in Denmark. She has been accepted to the Circumpolar Young Leadership Program and will be doing an internship with the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat in Copenhagen.

Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 26/05) - This fall, Bobbie Jo Greenland's passion for the environment will send her on the adventure of a lifetime.

Greenland, who worked with the Environmental Impact Statement co-ordinator for the Gwich'in Tribal Council this summer, has been accepted to the Circumpolar Young Leadership Program.

She opted for an internship with the Indigenous Peoples Secretariat in Denmark where she will be a contributing member of the International Working Group For Indigenous Affairs.

"I've always had a passion for wise uses of resources and protecting the environment," said the 28-year-old, who plans to complete her degree in applied sciences when she returns from overseas.

"Having this experience will be a great benefit to me and the council in the long run."

The Indigenous Peoples Secretariat is an arm of the Arctic Council, which includes membership of governments across the circumpolar region. Each year the council convenes to discuss the issues affecting indigenous people in the Arctic.

The Gwich'in Council International is a permanent member of the Arctic Council and Greenland is already a youth rep for the GCI.

Greenland hopes her endeavour will inspire other young people in the region.

"I want to engage the youth and encourage them to get into the field of science," she said.

Greenland expects to depart for Denmark in mid-September.