Nunavut Arctic College's environmental technology program students pose for a group shot at Qaummaarviit during the annual fall field camp. In the back row, from left, are instructors Jason Carpenter and Daniel Martin. In the second row, from left are Marie France Gagnon, Pasha Kooneeliusie, Abraham Kadluk, Louis-Phillip Pothier, Tyler Rowe, Izaac Wilman, Jeremy Fraser, Lars Qaqqaq, Daniel Taukie and Jordan Musgrove. In the third row, from left, are Cynthia Pialaq, Adam Evic, Dominique Fauteux, Will Autut, Erik Ikoe, James Bolt, Amanda Taqtaq, Geneva Noble, Jennifer Amagoalik and Terence Milton. In the front row, from left, are David Jackie Angootealuk, Aaron Spares, Sean Noble-Nowdluk, Tony Lee, Simon DeMaio and dog Pearl, crouched in very front. - photo courtesy of Nunavut Arctic College |
Nunavut Arctic College students on the land
Environmental technology program popular and practical
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, October 5, 2015
NUNAVUT
The environmental technology program at Nunavut Arctic College is a popular course, with 100 graduates so far since 1987.
This year there are 17 first-year students and eight second-year students, all of whom just returned from a one-week annual fall field camp which takes place outside Iqaluit in late September, where they delve into wilderness first aid and environmental monitoring. After the first year, a student can gain a certificate and after the second year, a diploma.
Four students agreed to sit down with Nunavut News/North and explain why the course is such a draw.
Second-year student Simon DeMaio, who grew up in Pond Inlet, said he's always had an interest in the natural world around him.
"I've always liked things about the environment. I've always liked those little things you find in puddles. Now that I'm older I think I'd like to work in something like that, rather than an office job," he said.
Geneva Noble of Iqaluit, also a second-year student, comes from a long line of folks who work in environment-related fields.
"I grew up here in Iqaluit and my family did a lot of hunting and camping. My family also had an outfitting business here and my dad was a conservation officer. My grandfather was with the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board here," she said.
"I also worked as a summer student for the Department of Environment for five years. I really like it there, I like the people, I like being outdoors, and I like doing hands-on work. This summer too I did a lot of permafrost readings. I like going out there in the field doing the work."
All four students say they'd heard great things about the program, that the work is satisfying and the jobs are plentiful after graduation.
"I have a couple of friends who took the program and they really encouraged me to take it as well," said Noble, who, in turn, encouraged Jennifer Amagoalik to jump in.
Amagoalik is just beginning her first year.
"I also knew I didn't want an office job," she said.
"I knew I wanted to be active and maybe get into research. I heard a lot of good things about this program. How you're able to get a job almost instantly. Out of all the programs at Arctic College - because I knew I wanted to come back here after being in Ottawa for two years - I thought this program would be the most interesting. I wanted to be with my family and I felt this program would benefit me most."
Jeremy Fraser, another first-year student, said he's "an outdoor kinda guy."
"And (the program) just drew me because it has a lot to do with being outside."
He wants to be a part of monitoring the environment.
"You definitely want to be aware of the changes. And I think this could open a lot of doors for the future in the kind of workplace I like to be in."
The program covers a lot of ground in both years and by the time the students graduate they are equipped to work with government, industry or other sectors. The list of possible jobs is staggering.
"Our grads are everywhere," said instructor Daniel Martin.
After a week at the fall field camp, Amagoalik said: "Yeah, I definitely want to be here."
Noble explained the fall field camp focuses on wilderness first aid for first-year students and marine biology for the second-year students.
"It's first aid in a wilderness setting, where you won't have the necessary resources right away," she said. "As ETP we go out on a lot of day trips or when we do camps like these we're preparing ourselves for what could happen, so we know how to use our limited resources."
DeMaio adds: "It's good to learn how to manage unexpected situations."
Noble explains, among many scenarios, "there was a mass evacuation at the end."
Second-year students played the role of casualties and the first years had to save them - their final test.
"Without any forewarning," said DeMaio.
The students erupt in laughter. "The last night was chaos," said Fraser.
Aside from the practicalities of the course of study - such as learning Latin related to marine biology and how to monitor marine life and tidal ecosystems - the students all learned to work together in a camp setting, they went hunting, and they bonded.
