The Wheelhouse -- a second classroom where the Bridge Training Simulator is located. The simulator provides a 180-degree field of vision for navigation. Andy Kopalie, left, and Mosesee Unahah navigate a sealift vessel departing from Valleyfield, Que. - photo courtesy of Randy Pittman

NUNAVUT
Randy Pittman captains an unusual ship. It is the length of a long hallway in the old residence in Iqaluit.

Classrooms and office are identified as "Wheelhouse" (navigation bridge), "Ship's Office" (Captain Pittman's office), "Main Deck" (main work area on a vessel), and "Bosun's Locker" (main storage room on a ship for all deck equipment).

This "ship" is the Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium's (NFMTC) school.

Partners in consortium Arctic Fishery Alliance Baffin Fisheries Coalition Cumberland Sound/Pangnirtung Fishery Limited Partnership Qikiqtaaluk Corporation Kakivak Association Kivalliq Partners in Development Marine Institute Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. Nunavut Arctic College Nunavut Development Corporation Government of Nunavut, Department of Environment Government of Nunavut, Department of Economic Development and Transportation Government of Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency *The consortium also works closely with sea lift companies such as Nunavut Sealink and Supply Inc. Source: Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium Prepared for occupations The Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium offer training across Nunavut in a variety of areas in offshore fishing, inshore fishing and processing plants, such as: Engineer Deckhand Bookkeeper Chief Engineer Factory Worker Factory Supervisor Marine Diesel Mechanic Quality Control Manager Fisheries Observer Bridge Officer Second Mate First Mate Captain Master Bosun Cook Source: Nunavut Fisheries and Marine Training Consortium

The consortium is the provider of all marine training across Nunavut, including training in offshore and inshore fisheries, processing plants and cargo vessels. Created in 2005, the organization stepped up activities in 2008, when Elizabeth Cayen was chosen as executive director. In the past year alone, the consortium has offered 35 courses to 300 students with a completion rate of 91 per cent. From September to December last year, 10 instructors were offering 14 different programs.

"Five or six years ago, if you asked, 'Do you know anybody that works on a ship?' The answer was, 'No,' or 'One or two.' Now it's become more and more common."

According to the Government of Canada, Nunavut accounts for 56 per cent of Canada's salt-water shoreline.

"It's a marine culture," said Pittman. "All 25 communities are by water."

The goal, ultimately, is to have Inuit crews on Nunavut waters, and beyond. Economically, this is a positive for families. A trained seaman can earn approximately $100,000 a year.

"It's a good job, a good career. People are not in the social net. If you want to live in a small community up here, how many job opportunities are there? How will you provide for your family? They can have better family lives, a better home life, with less stress which leads to less social problems. It's more than just economic benefits, there are social benefits."

And it's good for Nunavut.

"One hundred working on ships, that's $10 million in salaries alone (circulating in the economy)," said Pittman. "For the feds, that's $3 million back in tax base."

Pittman says the programs put students on a direct training-to-employment track.

"Our partners are industry, all training is tied to industry," said Pittman.

He explains that often when a student goes through training, "you do the course, the training and they forget about you. We track them and work with them right on through employment."

Cayen notes, "Our training means something. You take the training and you can take it anywhere."

Transport Canada is the regulator and all courses are accredited.

"Students are trained to national and international standards," said Pittman.

The Qikiqtaaluk Corporation (QC) has been a member of the consortium since its inception. QC is one of 17 offshore Northern-ship licence holders in Canada. It owns the MV Saputi, which employs a crew of 50 people.

"Prior to the formation of the consortium, the pre-sea training was done internally. Our history goes back to when we were first issued a licence in 1983," said QC vice president and consortium board member Peter Keenainak.

The corporation welcomed having the training load taken off it.

"It's a dedicated organization with a single focus of providing industry training. The training is concentrated. They have dedicated people to look after the training. It does relieve us, in some sense, though we still have a role on the fishing vessels."

Once the training is complete, students are qualified to work on the MV Saputi and other vessels in Canada, explains Keenainak. There are numerous positions on board and a new employee will generally start in the factory, packaging fish, whether shrimp or turbot. More senior positions include factory foreman and factory chief.

There are also opportunities on the deck of other fishing vessels, such as deck hands and trawl bosses. Finally, there are opportunities in the galley, because the ships are operating 24 hours a day and people have to eat.

"And, of course, there's the wheelhouse, which has more senior positions, like engineer and captain."

Keenainak says the most important part of the training process is sea time.

"You obviously can't go through the NFMTC training program and become captain tomorrow. You have to go through a process."

It's this very process that makes the program so successful, says Pittman. Students begin training, work at sea, and can return to training - working their way up the ladder, alternating between studying and making a living. The work is seasonal, and courses range from two to six weeks.

"The screening process NFMTC does right from the start from the first course, second course, and third course, and so on, is very helpful to the operators," said Keenainak. "We're looking at a little more dedication on the part of the fisherman."

In one of their final trips of last season with a crew complement of 25 people, 10 were factory workers. Of those, five were Inuit trained through NFMTC. And Keenainak says the number of trained Inuit is increasing all the time.

Keenainak would like the ship to be fully crewed by Inuit.

"It happened in Greenland," he says.

Three NFMTC students work on Nunavut's state of the art, multi-purpose research vessel, Nuliajuk.

"Several students right now are really interested in the Coast Guard - that's one of the irons in the fire," said Pittman.

Cayen says the consortium is trying to get people headed in that direction.

"They (Coast Guard) have the training. We've been told, 'They should just go do the Coast Guard training.' Well, that's a four-year course. That's not going to happen. That's way too long a training period. But if we could get the guys working on deck already, start there, and then they can move up. Maybe they'd want to advance to an officer.

"The Coast Guard is a great way to make a living, as well."

But there's another untapped job source.

"There is a lot more potential for employment with bulk carriers," says Pittman.

Cayen elaborates.

"The iron ore is sitting on the dock in Milne Inlet. Then it will be taken by foreign ships to where it needs to go. That just drives me nuts," she says.

"There's actually more jobs on the boats than in the mines. It makes me really sad that that's not happening. Fednav has that contract to do all that shipping."

According to its website, Fednav is a group of Canadian companies in the ship transport industry, primarily involved in transporting bulk cargo and break bulk cargo worldwide.

"That doesn't necessarily include Canadians, more likely Chinese and Filipino crews. And that's fine, But it's not really fine when they're taking ore out of Nunavut. They really should have some Inuit on board. And it's not going to happen. These are foreign-flagged boats. They decide who the crew is going to be. There is no requirement for them to have Inuit on board."

Cayen explains that there isn't a direct requirement for Inuit employment on fishing vessels.

"However, when you go and get your quota, it's one of the things you're asked. 'What are you contributing to Inuit training? How many Inuit do you have on board?' Those are all points in getting quota."

Cayen attributes lack of Inuit on the bulk carriers to how the Impact Benefit Agreement was negotiated.

"To me, you would think that could have been put into that agreement. The mining guys have to do it. The construction companies have to do it. Even the Government of Nunavut - they would like 100 per cent Inuit employees. Obviously that's going to take a while, but that's just the standards that are put there. There are no standards for those boats taking the iron ore out. To me, that's a lost opportunity."

Meanwhile, the consortium is taking full advantage of existing opportunities and so should Nunavummiut. Eight years into training, with enrolment increasing each year, there is plenty of work for Inuit.

"There are a lot of boats out there. A lot of boats," said Cayen.

See next week for an inside look at fisheries and marine training from the perspective of three young Inuit embracing life at sea, and coordinating instructor Randy Pittman's work with them and their fellow students.

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