RANKIN - A young woman from Rankin Inlet was one of three Nunavut youth selected to participate in a national symposium focusing on aboriginal business and economic development in Saskatoon, Sask., this past month.

Naomi MacCallum joined Peter Tatatuapik of Arctic Bay and Wynter Kuliktana of Kugluktuk at the event.

While Naomi MacCallum of Rankin Inlet may start her own business someday, she's content at her current job with Ivalu Ltd. in her home community. - Darrell Greer/NNSL photo

She was approached by Robert Connelly of the Department of Economic Development and Transportation to see if she would be interested in attending the symposium.

After indicating she would, MacCallum was selected from among five Kivalliq youth to represent the region at the event.

MacCallum said the main message she took from the conference was that aboriginal people can do whatever they want to if they set their minds to it.

She said aboriginal youth can create jobs and boost economic development in their own community if they really want to.

"One of the presenters said the federal government spent more money this past year on social issues than it did on economic development," said MacCallum.

"In my opinion, maybe there wouldn't be so many social issues if the government spent more money on economic development."

MacCallum said the Nunavut delegates were able to spend some time together, but they were kept too busy at the symposium to discuss economic opportunities in their own communities.

She said a lot of ground was covered during the three-day event.

"It seemed we were always either sitting in on presentations or going into workshops," she said.

"There was a lot to learn in three days, so there wasn't much spare time."

The final day of the conference featured a forum solely for the youth delegates from across Canada to split into groups to discuss economic topics.

MacCallum said this was the first event of its kind ever held and, if more are planned, she would strongly encourage anyone given the opportunity to attend.

She said although the symposium had her thinking about the future, she's happy with the job she's had for the past 18 months and plans on sticking around for the foreseeable future.

"I really enjoy my job at Ivalu (a retail outlet) and the people I work with, so I'm not thinking of trying anything on my own right now," she said.

"The symposium did give me some ideas about creating and managing my own business, so you never know.

"It's something I may try in the future."