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A group of Coral Harbour men take a break from their Level 2 big game training course for guides. They are, standing from left, Mark Pootoolik, Chris Pameolik, Aaron Emiktowt, Danny Pee, Harry Gibbons, Lyle Harron and Casey Paniyuk, seated from left, and Darcy Nakoolak. - photo courtesy of Wes Werbowy

SALLIQ/CORAL HARBOUR - Coral Harbour hunters are adding to their traditional skills with a couple of guide training courses this week.

About eight local men have been taking part in levels one and two of a program by Wilderness Consultants.

"These guys are so dedicated, some of them have taken their vacation to do it," said Wes Werbowy, who designed and teaches the course.

Casey Paniyuk, the local recreation coordinator, is one of them.

"I'm taking holidays in the classroom," he laughed. "I took the level one before and started guiding ... It's a good career and a good opportunity. There's a lot of income that comes into the community and goes to the community instead of elsewhere."

Paniyuk wrapped up the level two course last week. He said the training is a good compliment to the traditional skills he learned mainly from his father growing up.

"There are so many regulations in guiding and so much information given to us. Fishing, hunting regulations, keeping an animal and getting the meat and all that," he said.

Both levels teach a blend of hospitality and concrete skills and knowledge, with time spent on the land and in the classroom.

"There's a real focus on ecotourism, to see the land through the eyes of the tourist, to really understand what a visitor is looking for," Werbowy said.

Along with hunting, survival and navigation skills, first aid training and safety procedures are also stressed, "so if the unthinkable occurs, you deal with it," he added.

The courses, which have been used in the past as the basis of licensing guides by the Government of Nunavut, also deal with a little bit of psychology.

"How to handle the perceptions of another culture and how to look after someone when they think that they don't need to be looked after," Werbowy explained.

"Sometimes it's southerners, who may have a position of power in the south, who may be an elder, but for their safety's sake they must be kept under control ... really, the easiest ones are the animals, the more difficult ones are the human beings."

Done properly, guiding and outfitting can be big business in Nunavut, where many communities hold little other chance for local employment.

Ryan St. John and his wife Dorothy started their company Henik Lake Adventures in Arviat when the opportunity arose to get some hunting tags in 2005. The following year, they held Werbowy's guide training course for local hunters in Arviat.

Since then, the business had grown to employ up to 20 people as guides, transporters and carpenters throughout the year.

"There's good demand if you have a good product to offer," St. John said.

In 2006 and 2007, guides from his company conducted 84 hunts of caribou, muskox and polar bear.

Clients generally hear about their services through word of mouth, he added.

According to Nunavut Tourism, there are approximately 30 outfitting companies licensed across the territory, although there are likely many more guides in operation.

Nunavut Tourism's Olivia Brown stressed the importance of having proper training.

"It's important to have qualified guides in order to ensure Nunavut's guests have a safe and positive experience," Brown said.

"With qualified guides people are going to feel safe and learn more from their trip and will be able to tell others about the great time they had.Qualified guides are also more aware of the standards that clients expect on their trip."

And that's important to managing tourism as an ongoing resource, according to Werbowy. "Tourism is infinite," he said.

"You look after your customer base, your resource, and it's there for your great-grandchildren. In 25 years of traveling around Nunavut I've seen the greatest product is its young people, and the greatest concern is employment."