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IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY - Working as a Mountie in a small community is not always easy, especially when you know everybody. That's something Nellie Hogaluk, who is working as a summer student in the RCMP's Cambridge Bay detachment, is learning.

Nellie Hogaluk, left, receives her graduation certificate from Chief Supt. Steve McVarnock in Iqaluit on June 17 after completing the RCMP Nunavut Police Experience Program. She is working as a summer student at the Cambridge Bay detachment. - photo courtesy of the RCMP

Hogaluk is one of 14 students working for eight weeks in various RCMP detachments across the territory as part of the RCMP Nunavut Police Experience Program.

"It gets hard sometimes because this is my home community and I know everybody, but we, the RCMP, do their job," she said.

Before heading out to the communities, the students learned note-taking, introduction to law and drug awareness, and other relevant subjects, during their week-long training this past June in Iqaluit. They assist police in low-risk, non-emergency situations, learning about the importance of teamwork and confidence while tackling the demands of policing in the North.

Born in Yellowknife and raised in Cambridge Bay, Hogaluk said she works both day and night shifts. As this is her second summer with the RCMP, she said she knew what to expect.

"It's been going pretty good so far," she said, adding she likes it because it's challenging.

"You don't know what to expect from anything that will happen in the office or outside."

Hogaluk is the great-granddaughter of Andre Evaglok, who served as a special constable from 1960 to 1964. He died in 1966 at age 30.

"It's inspiring to know one of my family members (was) part of the RCMP," she said. "It's an honour to me that people come up to me and talk about how my great-grandfather was one of the members."

Hogaluk, 21, graduated high school and will soon go through the test papers to be accepted into the RCMP's training academy in Regina, she said.

"I would like to be a role model for the community, for the teenagers and kids," she said. "I would like them to see we can do what we want to do."

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