OTTAWA - Three Nunavut youth voiced their concerns and shared their visions for the future of the territory, country and world in the chambers of the West Block on Parliament Hill for the first time as part of a National G8 Youth Caucus held May 15-19.

Young Inuit had the chance to share their vision of the future with other youth from across Canada and political leaders at a National G8 Youth Caucus held by Global Vision in Ottawa May 15-19. From left are Kerri Tattuinee, Global Vision founder and president Terry Clifford, Roger Tugak and Curtis Taqqaugaq. - photo courtesy of Kerri Tattuinee

High school graduate Roger Tugak from Rankin Inlet, Kerri Tattuinee, from Rankin Inlet and now living in Iqaluit, and high school student Curtis Taqqaugaq from Iglulik were fortunate enough to be chosen to attend the caucus.

"It means a lot for me to be here, now they are having a real Canadian total national caucus and I don’t think that has happened before in the 20 years the program has existed," said Tattuinee, who turned 22 years old on May 16, the first day of the caucus.

The caucus, organized by Global Vision, a national not-for-profit organization encouraging leadership and the involvement of young Canadians in education, their communities, their country and the global community, brought together 100 youth from across Canada. This first time participation by Nunavut youth was due, in part, to $165,000 in funding over two years from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

Tattuinee said she was thrilled to be representing Nunavut as she said felt in her heart that the territory is a big part of Canada that needs representation on the international stage. With issues such as global warming, Arctic sovereignty and the opening of the Northwest Passage, Tattuinee said Nunavut needs to be represented before the ice melts and boats start going through the passage.

Fellow youth delegate Curtis Taqqaugaq from Iglulik said he is also concerned about the state of the Northwest Passage. Once the passage is open he said it will create more boat traffic.

"I am a hunter myself and they scare away the animals, we would have to go farther to hunt the animals that we have hunted for thousands of years," said the 18-year-old.

Tattuinee said other youth have told her that they were very surprised about what they learned from the three youth about Inuit culture and Nunavut.

"We have a voice, it might be a whisper in the whole Canadian voice but you have to listen to that whisper, we need to cry out for attention now and we can’t just wait and sit around anymore," she said.

The caucus is being held as part of Global Vision's Junior Team Canada Pan-Territorial Northern Project. A total of 60 youth attended one of two Pan-Territorial Global Leaders Centres in Yellowknife or Iqaluit in late April and early May. It was from there the trio were chosen to represent the territory at the caucus in Ottawa.

The three youth have the opportunity and could be chosen to go to the the Muskoka Youth G8 Summit in Ontario in June where youth from all over the world will be attending.

"We were able to provide outreach to give them (youth in the North) the leadership skills they need to build up their communities," said Amy Giroux, director of Global Vision. This is the first time youth from the territories have been able to participate in part due to funding from the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency who contributed more than $165,000 over two years.

Giroux said she has seen the three youth grow as individuals and leaders during the caucus. She describes Tattuinee as having very strong communication skills and being very aware of what the needs of the North are. Tattuinee is the most vocal in the group. Giroux describes Tugak as a "silent leader" helps his team members collect their thoughts and boost their self confidence before presentations.

When Tattuinee returns to Iqaluit, she said she is going to share what she has learned at the caucus with her colleagues at the Department of Education and students at area schools.

"We have to get the students involved and get them talking as there is a lot of stuff happening in our world we just have to take advantage of the opportunity or it will zoom right past us if we don’t take note of it," she said.