WHITEHORSE, YUKON - Three Iqaluit students got a chance to experience what it would be like to be politicians this past October.

Three students from Inuksuk High School participated in the first Model Arctic Council in Whitehorse in October. From left are Nigel Audla, Natashia Allakariuallak and Jessica Penney. - photo courtesy of Kim Masson

Inuksuk High School students Natashia Allakariuallak, Nigel Audla and Jessica Penney, along with their teacher Kim Masson, ventured to Whitehorse to participate in the first Model Arctic Council.

"I learned a lot about the Canadian government and what they think about issues and how the Conservative government works," said Penney, a Grade 11 student.

Organized by The United Nations Association in Canada, the Model Arctic Council allowed students to take on the role of groups involved in the Arctic Council.

The Arctic Council, formed in 1996, is an intergovernmental body made up of Arctic nations, including Canada, where discussions and negotiations take place on how the Arctic can be preserved.

Each student belonged to a different working group. Audla, also in Grade 11, represented Canada in the working group on the protection of the Arctic marine environment.

He said they talked about drilling for oil.

"If there was some sort of oil spill, it would affect us a lot more but if there was one down south it wouldn't be that bad as our environment is much more delicate," said Audla.

He added he learned a great deal about politics and how the political process works.

Allakariuallak, who is in Grade 10, was part of the Arctic monitoring assessment program.

She discussed climate change and global warming.

Allakariuallak won the coolest talent award and the award for the delegate who was the coolest under pressure.

Students from Russia, who were quite vocal, put pressure on Canada to vote for one of the recommendations but Allakariuallak kept her cool.

"I was calm while everyone was freaking out," she said.

Penney said what she found most rewarding was educating others about life in the North.

Masson said the students also learned about Robert's Rules of Order and how political systems work in other countries.

"I thought it was an excellent example of how the world really works," she said.

Masson said she plans to take another group of students to the council again next year.