Sachs Harbour student learns by doing
Dustyn Gully gets gig rebuilding cabin in Aulavik National Park
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Monday, September 14, 2015
IKAAHUK/SACHS HARBOUR
Dustyn Gully had more than just a great view at his workplace this summer.
Dustyn Gully caught his first beluga whale near Sachs Harbour on July 17, 2014, just days before his 16th birthday. - photo courtesy of Dustyn Gully |
The Grade 12 student at Inualthuyak School in Sachs Harbour travelled to Aulavik National Park to help renovate a Parks Canada cabin in August.
"We just had to insulate the walls and fix the roof," he said. "We repainted it."
Gully saw an advertisement for the job at the Ikahuk Co-op and decided to apply.
"They put a form in the Co-op and I put my name down," he said.
Gully said he was excited at the chance to visit Aulavik for the first time.
"It just seemed like a cool thing to do, to go to the national park," he said.
Located in the north of Banks Island, Aulavik National Park is known for having the world's largest density of musk oxen, according to Parks Canada.
Gully said while he didn't see any muskoxen, he saw other species such as snow geese.
It took an hour's plane ride for Gully and three other workers from Sachs Harbour to reach the park, he said.
They spent five days fixing the cabin, which is also where the group stayed until the job was complete.
"We had tents but we just decided to sleep in the cabin," Gully said.
Now, Gully said he has the skills he needs to make repairs on any similar structure.
"I learned how to renovate a cabin," he said.
For now, Gully said he's focusing on school. His favourite class so far this year is nutrition.
"I get to learn to cook," he said. "It's just a fun class to be in."
Once high school is finished, he hopes to work for a year or two before continuing his education in college or university.
Gully said his work experience this summer has made him realize how much he enjoys working with his hands and being outside. No matter what career path he ends up choosing, he said he's been inspired to consider a career in renovations instead of an office job.
"I just don't really like doing any paperwork," he said.
