PORT ALBERNI, B.C./NAUJAAT
The first leg of an exchange program was a tremendous hit with 26 Naujaat cadets who visited Port Alberni, B.C., and area earlier this month.

Naujaat cadets Macleod and Emmanuel Arnatsiaq have some fun on Long Beach with their commanding officer, Capt. Lloyd Francis, from left, as they look out over the Pacific Ocean during their exchange visit to Port Alberni, B.C., earlier this month. - photo courtesy of 3055 RCACC

The exchange program between the two communities is funded through Experiences Canada.

The Port Alberni cadets will spend a week in Naujaat from May 16 to 23.

Naujaat cadet Master Warrant Officer Gene Siusangnark, 17, said the trip itself was two firsts for him in that it was his first time on an exchange program and his first time to visit British Columbia.

He said the trip to Port Alberni was everything he imagined and more.

"It was an awesome trip and I loved every part of it," said Siusangnark.

"It's a valuable program because it allows cadets to see new places and learn about different cultures, and learning about different cultures was my favourite part of the trip.

"I enjoyed out boating too, but learning about cultures was number one.

"And I learned there are a lot of very, very big trees in British Columbia."

Siusangnark said people he met in B.C. were nice, helpful and welcoming.

He said he was a little surprised nobody asked him many questions about Naujaat or Nunavut.

"I was comfortable in the bigger places, and really up for going to as many places as we could.

"I was just so excited because there was so much to do.

"It's kind of weird, being from Naujaat, to think about how people are surrounded by all that every day down there.

"One thing I really wanted to do there was go to a hockey game, but I never got the chance, but I did get to go swimming and we saw the new King Kong movie, which was pretty good."

Cpl. Macleod Arnatsiaq, 13, is another Naujaat cadet who couldn't wait to go swimming when he got to B.C.

Arnatsiaq said he made friends on the trip, and he's really looking forward to seeing them again when the B.C. cadets come to Naujaat.

"We talked a lot about things we do in cadets because it was something we all had in common.

"But we enjoyed everything we did together and, I think, cadets, or teenagers, have lots in common no matter where they live.

"I really liked helping out at the greenhouse, where I got to plant onion and lettuce seeds.

"I felt like I was part of a team helping out and giving something back, and it's pretty cool to think something I planted will one day grow here and be eaten."

Cpl. Tigumiaq Haqpi, 13, said he was happy, and a little surprised, to find the B.C. cadets were into the cadet program just as much as the Naujaat cadets.

He said there were a lot of things he was looking forward to when they left Naujaat, but the one thing he couldn't wait to do above all others was go bowling.

"I was like everyone else because I wanted to do everything, or as much as we could, while we were there," said Haqpi.

"I don't know why, but I really wanted to go bowling for my first time and I had a lot of fun doing that.

"I'd probably be into it if we had bowling alleys in Nunavut, but the first time is the most fun.

"The cadets had to work together and stuff while we were there, and I didn't find any difference between working with the Port Alberni cadets or our Naujaat cadets."

None of the Naujaat cadets struggled with language issues while in B.C., whether they were doing the speaking or being spoken to.

Haqpi said the only thing he remembers being asked is how cold does it get in Naujaat?

He said he just left it at it gets cold.

"Someone asked what we do for fun or something, and there might have been other questions and I just don't remember, but we were really trying to do as much as we could before we had to go home and five days went by really fast.

"I hope we can take them out hunting, or fishing at least, when they come up here.

"That's what a lot of life in Naujaat is all about, so I'd like them to experience that."

Arnatsiaq quickly chimed in that it sure would be great to take the B.C. cadets hunting, and they should learn to drum dance, as well.

A small Kivalliq community is a big change from city life, but the Naujaat cadets don't think their new friends will be bored when they visit.

Siusangnark said he wants the B.C. cadets to learn as much about Inuit culture as possible during their stay, and he hopes ayaya singing is another activity demonstrated to them.

"They'll have fun in Naujaat, and they won't be bored" said Siusangnark.

"I have no worries about that at all."

Experiences Canada covers all travel costs for the program but the Naujaat cadets are busy fundraising to provide meals and activities for the B.C. cadets, who will stay at the local high school during their visit, plus any extra expenses that may occur.

Naujaat 3055 corps commander Capt. Lloyd Francis said he's proud of how well-behaved his cadets were in Port Alberni, and the people involved with the program in B.C. couldn't have been any nicer to the visitors.

Francis said his cadets experienced a lot of firsts on the trip, from the first time actually leaving Naujaat for some of them, to the first time flying, going swimming or bowling, staying in a hotel and seeing trees.

He said it was really something to watch some of the Naujaat cadets open up during the week.

"Some of our kids were very quiet and shy when they first arrived in Port Alberni, but, by the end of the week, they were talking, laughing and becoming very outgoing," said Francis.

"And, when we went to the Vancouver Island Military Museum, there just happened to be a veteran of the Second World War there and he took myself and five or six of our cadets aside and talked to us about his experiences.

"This was a 95-year-old veteran who was on a bomber crew during the war, and, to have an actual veteran, because there aren't too many of them left, talk to us about his experiences was pretty special and a big part of our visit.

"We were lucky to have met him because there aren't any war veterans around Naujaat for the kids to have a chance to talk to, so it was a highlight for me."

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