NAUJAAT
The excitement is starting to build among the 26 members of the 3055 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC) and three adults who will be leaving Naujaat for the first leg of an exchange program with a group of combined sea and army cadets from Port Alberni, B.C., this coming month.

Among the group of 26 members of the 3055 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps who will be heading to Port Alberni, B.C., this coming month are, front row from left, Kasandra Katokra, Aaron Kopak, Lorena Siusangnark, Mary Kate Ulliuyarnat and Darryl Angotingoar, and, back row from left, Nathaniel Kopak, Tigumiaq Haqpi, Ron Sivanertok, Eric Katokra, Lou Kopak and Ernie Inaksajak in Naujaat this past week. Missing from photo are Gene Siusangnark, Terance Mapsalak, James Alaralak, Macleod Arnatsiaq and Neevie Kidlapik. - photo courtesy of Lloyd Francis

The exchange program is with Exchanges Canada, funded through the federal Department of Canadian Heritage.

3055 RCACC commanding officer Capt. Lloyd Francis said he received an e-mail from former Naujaat teacher Sarah Williams informing him of the exchange opportunity this past August.

He said William's daughter began in the cadet program while living in Naujaat and is still involved with the program in Port Alberni.

"Exchanges Canada basically facilitates these exchanges between two community or school groups and they fund all of our travel costs, which are always the biggest costs when travelling in the North," said Francis.

"Sarah (Williams) and I applied to the program together as 'twinning groups' and it's absolutely amazing to me that we were accepted.

"We begin the exchange by sending our 26 cadets and three adults to Port Alberni between March 10 and March 19, and then Sarah and two adults will be bringing 21 cadets from that community to spend about 10 days in Naujaat from May 15 to May 24.

"We really were shocked to be accepted after just applying for the first time, and we're very, very excited because this is a great opportunity for our cadets to experience life in a new place in British Columbia."

Not a single Naujaat cadet on the exchange program has ever been to Vancouver Island, including Francis, with the exception of Terance Mapsalak, who was in Vancouver this past week while waiting to travel to Chile as part of a cadet expedition program.

The more Francis learns about the program, the more impressed he is by it.

He said the 3055 RCACC had to start fundraising quickly after being accepted to cover the costs of food and activities.

"The way the program is set up, they pay our food and activity costs while we're in Port Alberni, and then we're responsible for the same costs while they're in Naujaat," said Francis.

"We started fundraising by holding a Chase the Ace draw, canteen fundraisers and a penny sale, and they were all really, really successful for us.

"We've managed to raise $6,000 so far, and a part of that success is due to the support we receive from our local Co-op and Northern store in Naujaat.

"Our cadet program receives a lot of support from them, often helping us with selling tickets or donating merchandise for the events we hold."

"The ongoing support we receive from the Co-op and Northern store helps us a great deal and we greatly appreciate their support."

Francis said it can often be a difficult task to select the cadets who will take part in a program such as this, and he'd like to see every cadet who wants to participate be able to do so, but, unfortunately, that's just not realistic.

He said the cadets were selected for the exchange based mainly on attendance, participation and their enthusiasm for taking part in the program.

"We talked to all the cadets about who really wanted to go, but the selection was based mainly on attendance, participation and positive attitude.

"We haven't fully planned out all the activities we want to offer when the Port Alberni cadets come to Naujaat, because we still have a few months to take care of all that, but we'll definitely be going out on the land while they're here.

"I hope we'll be able to spend one night, or maybe two, out on the land in tents, and we're trying to get some drum dancers organized so the visiting cadets can experience a drum circle.

"We're also hoping to get some material so each of the Port Alberni cadets can sew a pair of mitts for themselves, and we also hope to organize Inuit games and a number of other culturally-relevant activities."

Francis said the whole purpose of the exchange program is for the participants to experience other cultures and communities, as well as other ways of life that are different than theirs.

He said the Naujaat corps will focus on showing the visiting cadets as much as they can about Inuit culture and life in the Arctic.

"Our cadets are really excited about this because it's such a large group of them going out and they cover the entire range for cadets, with a couple of 12-year-olds going all the way up to 17-year-olds.

"We have a bit of every level represented, not just one specific training level, and we sat down and wrote letters to the Port Alberni group this past week because every cadet here has a "twin" in British Columbia.

"We had all the names of the B.C. cadets involved, so our cadets wrote a letter to them that they should receive before we leave Naujaat.

"I was told they sent their letters to us this past week, so we should get those during the next week, or so, and start communicating with them a lot more before the trips."

The Naujaat cadets will be visiting Pacific Rim National Park in Tofino while in Port Alberni, as well as going hiking, taking boat trips, and visiting historic sites and local museums.

Francis said there will also be activities such as bowling and movie nights to keep all the cadets active during their stay.

"Our cadets are going to be kept very, very, very busy while they're in Port Alberni.

"It's great they're among the people out there exploring different parts of our country because it's so huge, beautiful and diverse."

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