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RANKIN INLET - A competition of a different sort had students at Maani Ulujuk high school (MUI) developing their skills in Rankin Inlet recently.

MUI's Kevin Bussey invited Skills Canada Nunavut's executive director Michelle Jacquard and program co-ordinator Irene Blight to Rankin.

Teacher Chris Eccles, left, guides Grade 12 student Nangmalik Pissuk through the pipebuilding task during a Skills Canada Nunavut ObstaSkills Relay Race in Rankin Inlet earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Jennifer Anawak

Bussey said the visit was a step towards correcting MUI's lack of involvement in the skills program during the past few years.

"Public awareness and interest in skills didn't seem to be what it should for a community this size, especially with all the activity going on," said Bussey.

"I got MUI connected to Skills Canada Nunavut this past year as a precursor to more activity at our school.

"I was recently elected to the Nunavut Skills board and feel I can do more to promote it in Rankin."

About 70 students from Grades 7 to 12 took part in the highlight of the visit - the ObstaSkills Relay Race.

Bussey said MUI has a teachers-versus-students challenge every month in sports like soccer or basketball.

He said only about 15 students compete in the challenge, so it was hoped the ObstaSkills Relay Race would also increase that number.

The event featured eight different skills, including putting a flashlight together and making it work, connecting pipes, sewing a button on a piece of cloth, decorating a cupcake, making an individual place-setting and hammering nails in a pattern.

Bussey said the two skills representatives showed a very good PowerPoint presentation, which really got some kids hyped about skills.

"The relay was an overwhelming success, with the students being very excited to take part in it.

"The winning team gets to challenge the teachers in a skills competition at our elders' feast on Dec. 17."

MUI is also getting kids enrolled in the Nunavut Early Apprenticeship Training (NEAT) Program for next semester.

Bussey said one student already has a sponsor and will be ready to start working in carpentry next year.

He said a student or their school has to find a journey person to sponsor them in the NEAT program.

"They start NEAT while in Grade 10 and they must graduate high school.

"They work with the sponsor through high school and, upon graduating, they've acquired 1,000 hours and have their first year towards a journeyperson certificate.

"They're actually registered as an apprentice in training by the government when they start the program.

"NEAT is a program that could pay tremendous benefits to youth in a town that's just crying for tradespeople like Rankin."