INUVIK - A travelling workshop is bringing some hands-on training to young women across the Beaufort Delta.

A mobile trades training program visited Angik school in Paulatuk from Jan. 15 to 19, stopped in Ulukhaktok/Holman from Jan. 22 to 26, was in Inuvik Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, and is currently in Aklavik until Feb, 16.

Karla Kuptana, 16, heats the corners of a copper pipe during a workshop at Helen Kalvak school in Ulukhaktok on Jan. 26. The Grade 10 student plans on studying trades after high school, like her father and brother. - photo courtesy of Brook Land-Murphy

It is also scheduled to hit Mangilaluk school in Tuktoyaktuk from Feb. 19 to 23.

Teachers with the program, Naudia Lennie and Valerie Overend, cover metal working, small engine repairs and electrical skills.

Brook Land-Murphy, who is co-director of the Inuvik Youth Centre, said it's important that girls be encouraged to study trades.

She said the youth centre joined the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the NWT's department of Education, Culture and Employment in planning the workshops, which might reach about 60 girls overall.

"Women are not entering trades at the same rate as men. Given the large number of opportunities in the coming years, we want to encourage them to take part," she said.

Karla Kuptana, who is a Grade 10 student at Helen Kalvak Elihakvik school in Ulukhaktok, enjoyed learning to fix an extension cord and building a copper frame during the workshop.

She said her father Robert is a mechanic, her brother Irvin is an electrician, and she might pursue a trade such as welding or plumbing.

Maybe even heavy machinery.

"It's interesting to me. I like doing things, especially with vehicles," she said.

She isn't new to trade work. Last year she built a dogsled in shop class.

Fellow student Danielle Kuneyuna, who is 15, also said she enjoyed the workshop.

But while she built a pretty good picture frame, she said she's not sure if trades are for her.

"It was cool," she said, but that's all.

From Land-Murphy's point of view, both reactions are good.

While not all girls will becomes tradeswomen, she said, it's important they get the chance to try.

"The idea is to provide a general overview of all the trades, so girls can get a taste of each," she said.

"If anything, this 'shortens the distance' in their minds, making it more realistic.

It's a possibility they can visualize, and not just an abstract."