Nunavut teens trek Grand Canyon

IQALUIT — A troop of Nunavut teens spent 10 days tramping through the Grand Canyon this month.

The kids, who are members of the Canadian Army Cadet Program, hiked through Arizona’s Grand Canyon as part of an adventure-training expedition.

Participating in the hike were Naisana Eecheak of Arctic Bay; Tracy Kyak, Patrick Sangoya and Bryan Simonie of Pond Inlet; Bernice Ivalutanar and Soloman Malliki of Repulse Bay; Steen Kublu and Leonard Okkumaluk of Igloolik; and Chris Gillis and C. Koblogina of Cambridge Bay.

They were led by Lt. Pat McDermott of Pond Inlet, and joined by six youths and two adults from the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

The cadets had to pass a physical fitness test and undergo training to be selected for the trip.

The expedition will teach them to work in teams and will give them exposure to different landscapes and cultures, said Lt.-Cmdr. David Kirby, who oversees the cadet program for the Canadian Forces Northern Division.