A week in the Leg
Mangilaluk School students work as Legislative Assembly pages
Kassina Ryder
Northern News Services
Friday, November 18, 2016
TUKTOYAKTUK
Two Mangilaluk School students travelled from Tuktoyaktuk to Yellowknife the week of Nov. 1 to work as pages in the Legislative Assembly.
Two Mangilaluk School students from Tuktoyaktuk worked as pages in the Legislative Assembly in Yellowknife the week of Nov. 1. From left, Gerry Kisoun, Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Hayden Stuart, chaperone, Carmen Kuptana, page, Shane Wolki, page and Herb Nakimayak, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Nunakput. - photo courtesy of Legislative Assembly
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Carmen Kuptana and Shane Wolki both spent the week doing everything from delivering messages to ensuring members had enough drinking water.
Kuptana, Grade 9, said she enjoyed listening to the issues being discussed during sessions.
"They put a lot of work into stuff," she said.
The pair was chosen after each writing a letter about why they would be ideal candidates for the program, said principal Krista Cudmore.
"They had to answer a few questions about why they wanted to go and we sat down and looked at the applications," she said. "We chose two students who would most benefit from this opportunity."
In order to be eligible, students applying for the program must have recommendation letters and references, according to the government's website. They must be also be self disciplined and perform well at school.
Pages are paid $12.50 an hour and a typical workweek is about 15 hours, though sittings can run late.
Getting paid while learning first-hand about how government decisions are made was a big motivator for Kuptana.
"You get to go to Yellowknife and get paid," she said. "And you get to meet the MLA."
Herbert Nakimayak is currently the MLA for the Nunakput riding.
"I think it gives them a sense of what our MLA does, to actually see it in action," Cudmore said. "I think it's a great opportunity for student to see what they do for their riding."
The opportunity is especially important for students from the territory's most remote communities, she added.
Kuptana agreed. In addition to her days at the legislative assembly, she was also able to enjoy being in the city. She said her favourite part of the trip was getting to travel to Yellowknife.
"I got to go to the movies and go shopping," she said.
She said her advice to other students interested in participating in the program is to get as much from the experience as possible.
"Pay attention and be focused and outgoing," she said. "Don't be shy."
