TETLIT'ZHEH/FORT MCPHERSON - Cousins Janice and Jennifer Tetlichi are familiar faces in Fort McPherson, offering smiles and a helping hand or two at the Health Centre.

Jennifer Tetlichi, 31, and Janice Tetlichi, 28, both work at the Health Centre in Fort McPherson and hope they can show other young people in their community it's possible to get an education and return home. - Courtesy of Jennifer Tetlichi

Just a few years ago, both women were working in Yellowknife. It was the pull of family and the desire to give back to their community that brought them back home.

"Friends and family are here, it really works to my benefit," says Jennifer, while taking a rare break during a busy workday.

Though she was born and raised in Inuvik, she says she's always considered Fort McPherson home.

Now 31, she's been back for nearly five years.

Not only does she tackle a variety of health challenges each day - overseeing everything from chronic diseases, pre-natal care to laboratory tests.

It was partly this promise of variety that Jennifer used to lure her cousin to come work with her.

"My intention was always to stay in Yellowknife and be a hospital nurse, but in talking to Jennifer, she always had good stuff to say about (community nursing)," says Janice.

"There's such a big spectrum of stuff - you're always thinking, always wondering and questioning and reading. You're always learning."

Janice made the move home a year ago and though now on maternity leave, she doesn't hesitate when asked how she feels about her job, "I love it."

"Everyone welcomed me with open arms once they got past that, 'you're a nurse?' stage," jokes Janice.

"It would be hard to go back down south where all there is are hospitals and everything is so specific that you're an expert in one area. But here you have to be an expert in everything."

The work itself isn't the only draw.

"It's so much fun. It's great to see each other every day and bounce ideas off of her," says Janice of working with her cousin. "She's someone to look up to and get her feedback on how I'm doing."

Jennifer says they share the bond of nursing, even if it sometimes means overnight call and long shifts. "It's a team effort with regard to running a Health Centre. We help each other out," she says.

Both women have become a role model for young people.

"It's a benefit in regard to the fact that people see me and know that they can actually do the same thing," Jennifer says. "It's a bonus for me, because that's what I wanted to do, encourage some of these young people to go out and get an education and be able to come home and actually work."

Janice says she doesn't mince words when describing what it takes to go through a nursing program, but she's still encouraging.

"Some of the high school girls have stopped me a few times and asked what I did, how long it took me," Janice says. "The big question is always, 'was it hard? Was there lots of reading and assignments?' It was hard, I've always been truthful."

But being known as a nurse comes with its baggage, too.

"I'll be at the Northern store here or in Inuvik and people will come up and say, 'what's going on with my medication?'" Jennifer says with a laugh.

"Sometimes you just want to be a normal person."