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Discovering a career
Ten youths participate in science and technology camp in IqaluitJeanne Gagnon Northern News Services Published Wednesday, August 17, 2011
They were among the 50 aboriginal students from across Canada attending the camp, which mixed elements of western science with traditional Inuit knowledge during the eighth edition of the event, held this year in Iqaluit from Aug. 8 to 12. All the activities are linked to the North, said Cari Locke, program officer at Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, the department funding the camp through its First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy. She added they are hoping students get exposure to different scientific ideas and thoughts as well as understand the career opportunities in science and technology. "It's showing them progression from the old ways of doing things to the new ways but that doesn't mean the old ways are not valuable," she said. "They'll be studying the rocks of Nunavut. They'll be studying the tundra and the vegetation of Nunavut. They are making snow goggles." The workshops were taught by instructors from the Actua summer science camp program and technical experts working with territorial, federal and municipal governments. Shirley Nartok of Kugaaruk, Brandi Etegak of Cambridge Bay and Cindy Aokout of Rankin Inlet said attending the camp was fun. Nartok, 14, was panning for gold when Nunavut News/North caught up with her. "It's been fun. I've been meeting new friends, learning new stuff from new people," she said. She is pondering becoming a police officer or a science teacher when she grows up. Etegak, 12, is about to enter Grade 7 at Kiilinik High School. She was learning about weather systems and said she loves science. "It's pretty good. I like the activities we are doing," she said. Aokout, 13, said she enjoyed the experiments and the camaraderie between students.
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