TALOYOAK/GUELPH, ONT
Twelve students each from Netsilik Ilihakvik in Taloyoak and Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute, a 160-year-old school in Guelph, Ont., participated in a school exchange thanks to funding from Experiences Canada.

Adam Schmidt, a student from Guelph Collegiate, right, presents Elaine Saittuq, left, and her son, Howard Panigayak, middle, with a keepsake from his hometown in Ontario while on a school exchange with Netsilik Ilihakvik. - photo courtesy of Alison Corbett

The exchange took place because of a Nunavut experience involving a teacher at the Guelph school, Brian Cluff, who taught at Netsilik in 1994-1995, said Netsilik teacher Alison Corbett.

"He contacted our school last year to see if we were willing to participate in the exchange. It was a nice return for him to the community," Corbett said.

The Netsilik students were scheduled to spend 10 days - April 8 to 18 - in Ontario but weather held them back for a few.

"We did a jam-packed whirlwind tour of Guelph," said Corbett. "We met with the mayor of Guelph, did some tours of the Toyota (car) factory and the Dare factory where they make cookies. Little novel things like that."

The trip south wasn't student Holly Tulurialik's first.

"I wanted to go down for more experience," she said.

She looked forward to seeing more of a culture different from her own.

Tulurialik points to Toronto's CN Tower as a favourite experience, despite being scared of heights.

"I think I'm getting better with heights," she said, laughing.

Edmond Etunga previously participated in an exchange to Mississauga, Ont.

"I was looking forward to meeting my family," said Etunga. "And going to the Hockey Hall of Fame."

Both Tulurialik and Etunga say they enjoyed sharing life out on the land in Nunavut with their new friends from Guelph.

"I think it is important to participate in exchanges, for the experience and to know what it's like outside of Nunavut," said Etunga.

For Joni Tulurialik, the exchange was her first time away.

"I was really excited," she said. "I wanted to know what it would be like to live in a town that is a lot bigger than ours, with a lot of people, and how they live. It was very different."

She enjoyed the trip, especially the visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

"It was really awesome."

The Guelph students lived in Taloyoak from April 28 to May 8.

In Taloyoak, students camped out on the land for two nights and took two day trips to go ice fishing. Students also participated in a community feast and drum dance, a community talent show and made seal skin bracelets and a small wooden qamutiq craft.

Guelph student Alice Kennedy spoke to Nunavut News/North a couple of days before returning home from Taloyoak. "We've done a lot of really cool things," she said.

"We've actually just come back from camping out on the land on Netsilik Lake. That was really cool. It's just very different from everything we've done - riding in the qamutiq, staying overnight in the snow. Just being involved in the way of life here is really cool."

Being out on the land was popular with all three Guelph students Nunavut News/North spoke with.

Kennedy says she knew a bit about the Arctic, "but being up here is obviously a very different experience. It's one thing to learn from a book or online and then actually come up and be a part of it. I think it's something everyone should do. It opens your eyes to a very unique part of Canada."

The Guelph students, because of their school board regulations, could not sleep overnight with their families in Taloyoak, but they ate with them and spent time with them most nights.

"Unfortunately, we had to sleep at the school, which was a disappointment to us ... But we still did get to spend time with the families," said Kennedy.

Country foods were a big hit with the Guelph students, including muskox, polar bear, Arctic char and narwhal,

"I love to try everything I can," said Guelph student Adam Schmidt. "I tried polar bear. It was really interesting. It's one of my favourite meats now because it's just so different. And seal. I think the one that stood out the most for me is narwhal. It's unlike anything I've ever tried before - the taste and the texture, and the way it was prepared."

Schmidt said he came to Taloyoak with no expectations, adding he tries "to keep a really open mind to everything."

"I just tried everything I could and tried to experience everything I could. I would definitely like to visit again."

Guelph student George Huang's favourite part of the trip was meeting the community.

"Everyone was so friendly," he said. "Everyone was really, really kind."

He also reveled in the white landscape, without a tree in sight.

"I'm really thankful to everyone in the community, being so welcoming. Everyone just really comes out to help us stay warm. The whole community made sure we were ready for that. I'm really thankful for everything they've done for us," said Kennedy.

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