Arviat (Aug 02/06) - Inuit art has a long and storied history.

The Internet is modern technology and a powerful communications tool.

Students from Arviat decided to combine the two as their project for the sixth annual E-Spirit aboriginal youth business planning conference in Quebec City in May.

Natasha Tattuinee, a recent Grade 12 graduate from Qitiqliq school, knows that buyers from around the world could view and purchase traditional clothing, jewelry, wall hangings and carvings by using the Internet.

"We would have an online gallery and they would be able to order from it or ask for a custom-made piece," she said.

Of course face-to-face sales still work, too. The students proved that when the Arviat-made carvings and earrings they brought to the conference were quickly snatched up.

The E-Spirit conference, sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada, brought together close to 300 aboriginal students from across Canada, including some from Iqaluit and Sanikiluaq.

Tattuinee said she enjoyed hearing her peers' ideas, and mentioned some housing and clothing business concepts as being particularly interesting.

However, she's not ready to commit to a future in commerce. She has enroled in the Nunavut Sivuniksavut college program in Ottawa. Then she'll decide where to go from there, she said.

Elijah Komak, who is also now a high school graduate, said he would like to get into business - specifically a teen dance and disc jockey service.

Homer Obszarski was the third person involved in the Arviat project.

The trio also seized the opportunity to go sightseeing while in Quebec City.

"It's really beautiful there," Tattuinee said.