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BEAUFORT DELTA - Marlene Wolki remembers the first time she realized she wanted to work for Parks Canada. She was on a flight between Paulatuk and Inuvik when the plane had to make a detour over what is now Tukut Nogait National Park to look for an overdue kayaker.

Marlene Wolki has been a parks interpreter since 2001. Although she works both behind a desk and on the land, she said she much prefers to be out in the park. - photo courtesy of Marlene Wolki/Parks Canada

"I remember flying over the canyons and when I saw them I couldn't believe that was our land," she said.

In 2001 her husband saw an ad for a position in Paulatuk and urged her to go for it.

Wolki now works as the administrative support and interpreter for Tukut Nogait National Park. Her duties are wide ranging, from filing and completing paperwork to traveling out into the park as an interpreter and guide with youth. She is the main contact for visitors looking to travel to Tukut Nogait.

Wolki has also helped organize monthly youth drop-ins and elder teas to make sure community members come into the office. She wants people to know that the park is their land and it is there for them. She takes pride in knowing that she has travelled extensively in the park.

"I've pretty well been out in all the places that visitors ask about so I'm very happy about that," she said.

Wolki said most visitors to the park are hikers from Europe, but they also get kayakers and canoers as well.

One important part of her job is to bring the message of stewardship to schools around the NWT. She travels throughout the year to give presentations about the importance of preserving the environment.

Although she enjoys travelling to the students, she said she much prefers taking student to the park.

"The best thing for me is taking kids out to the park because there is always a learning experience coming out of that," she said.

On her last trip with youth in the summer of 2008, they encountered some bears near their camp. She described it as a real learning experience and a test of her skills.

"You sure have to be not only responsible but you need to be cool and calm," she said.

Wolki said she loves her job, and she enjoys the camaraderie with her co-workers.

"While working here I really feel I'm part of a team and I enjoy that," she said.