Hay River (Oct 23/06) - "I didn't want to, I was too scared of getting burnt," said Norma Harris, of the time a high school teacher asked her to try welding."Now I've been getting burnt for 21 years."

Harris has been welding, mostly in the North, since Grade 11. Born in Inuvik 39 years ago, Harris is of Gwich'in descent and has lived nearly her whole life up North.

She said being a female welder has made for an interesting career. She loves it but it is not always easy.

On her first job, only a half-hour into her first day, the foreman told her women weren't cut out for welding.

"It was discouraging right from the beginning," she said. "I was told I didn't belong in welding...well, he used other words but I won't repeat them."

Rather than backing down from the foreman's harsh words, it drove Harris to succeed.

"I knew how to weld. He just didn't like the fact that a female was in the trade. I wanted to prove him wrong," she said.

She doesn't know why there aren't more female welders, but can understand why some women steer clear of the trade.

"It is a tough job to get into. You've got to have strength, you can't play the girly girl in welding."

However, she wouldn't have it any other way. "I love the art of welding and the pleasure of building things."

With 21 years of welding, it is possible that she could be the longest serving female welder in the NWT.

"Most places I go I'm the only female welder, and otherwise I usually have the most experience," she said. However, it may all come to an end soon. Welding is a demanding job and the years of heavy lifting are starting to take their toll on Harris.

Her left elbow is becoming more and more painful. It may soon require an operation."I have to get out before my arm really falls apart on me," she said. She doesn't want to leave."It hurts my heart," she said.

"I love welding."