Taking her skills home
Jessi Pascal joining Students On Ice thanks to WWF Canada
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 8, 2017
INUVIK
Inuvik is too big of a town for Jessi Pascal, an ambitious 20-year-old who calls Aklavik her home.
Jessi Pascal looks forward to attending the Students on Ice Arctic expedition. The Aklavik youth hopes to make a difference in her community. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo
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She's here for school, but she hopes to become an animal biologist and bring her talents to her community.
"We're tired of seeing biologists come and go and that's it, because that happens a lot," said Pascal.
"I want to live there and learn more about the environment around there and the animals. I already have a tight grip with our people."
She believes it takes a community to raise a child.
"The community has been there, my family has been there for me," she said.
"It's the scenery too. I love the mountains. I could just go this way to the tundra and then this way to the forest."
Of Inuvialuit and Gwich'in descent, Pascal was part of the group that formed the first Gwich'in Regional Youth Council. She also took part in the National Inuit Youth Council.
Pascal is currently in the environment and natural resources program in Inuvik.
She has another year to go before she's finished, and she's just started her second year working for the Fisheries Joint Management Committee.
She was accepted to go on Students On Ice, an annual cruise and learning experience for youth, when she was in Grade 9 but couldn't make it because of other plans.
She's looking forward to the experience this summer and hopes to one day be one of the professionals they bring on board to teach youth their skills.
"I want to see myself there in 20 years and teach people my language, my culture, where I'm form," said Pascal. "That really inspires me to keep going and keep doing good things, stay positive and stay interested in social events."
She also wants to act as a role model for youth who might look up to her, hoping to get the message out to encourage them to take as many opportunities as they can.
WWF Canada is sponsoring her voyage.
The 2017 expedition will take place August 8 to 23.
