Rankin Inlet program brings flight school to aspiring pilots
Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway program expands to Nunavut
Nujaliah Iyerak of Igloolik says it’s his dream to become a pilot. He’s currently studying with the Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway program to make that dream come true. (Photo courtesy of Exchange International Corp.)
Nujaliah Iyerak remembers growing up in Igloolik and being fascinated by airplanes, but feeling that flying one and becoming a pilot was far out of reach.
Nujaliah Iyerak is all smiles on the “special day” he was able to take his wife Blandina Irqqarqsaq out on a flight for the first time. (Photo courtesy of Exchange International Corp.)
The closest he got to this dream was checking-in passengers and handling baggage as a representative for Canadian North in Igloolik.
That was until last year, when the Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway program, which brings flight school to pilots, expanded to Rankin Inlet.
“I just thought that being a pilot was just cool and when I heard about the program, I just applied,” Iyerak said in an interview.
“And then I got an email saying that I got accepted, and I just was lost for words.”
The 25-year-old began the program in Rankin Inlet in May 2024.
The Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway program began four years ago in Thompson, Man. It is fully funded by Exchange Income Corp., the company that’s in the process of buying Canadian North.
“[We wanted] to try the idea of bringing the program to the people, instead of people to the program, and it was very successful,” said Mike Pyle, CEO of Exchange Income Corp., of the program’s expansion to Rankin Inlet.
Pyle said his company pays for students’ schooling and accommodations, including a stipend. In addition to living arrangements, the program anticipates its participants’ other needs.
“If something comes up with family, we recognize it and we get them home,” said David White, executive vice-president of Exchange Income Corp.
“When it comes time for a major event, we often fly families in so that students are surrounded by their community, because we recognize that community piece is key.”
In the North, the flight training season is short. So Iyerak, funded through this program, opted to head south to Moncton, N.B., in October to expedite his studies.
Iyerak said he misses home but that his wife Blandina Irqqarqsaqq took a leave of absence from her work and came with him, which made the transition easier. Exchange Income Corp. pays for her to go to New Brunswick as well.
The Atik Mason Indigenous Pilot Pathway program started with 12 students in its first class. There are now 32 students per year combined at its three locations, including Rankin Inlet.
“We’ve got six students flying already and eight more that are about to fly, that are in the queue to start with our various airlines,” Pyle said.
“So we were up to 14 in four years. If we can keep that going, we’ll be able to have a significant piece of our staff be from the communities we service.”
Depending on how much flight time Iyerak can get in, he said he hopes to receive his commercial pilot’s licence by August. From there, he will likely fly medevac planes, but has his eye on flying commercial with Canadian North in the future.
“[Iyerak] is the perfect example of what we’re trying to achieve with the program,” Pyle said, adding that one of the greatest challenges in remote communities is the lack of opportunity.
“When [Iyerak] is sitting there flying the first medevac out of Igloolik, with someone he knows, that’s going to be the world’s best advertisement for, ‘You can be whatever you want to be.’
“Creating hope in remote communities is a huge part of what we’re trying to do here. Selfishly, we also want to build great pilots.”
Very cool!
Congratulations Nujaliah, aviation is a great career. There will be ups and downs (no pun intended), just try to remain level headed and focus on the end goal of getting your commercial license.
Your success will inspire other students throughout Nunavut to follow a similar path, pilot, mechanic, nurse, doctor, medical technician, the future is wide open for the youth of Nunavut.
Kudos to Exchange Income Corp for taking the effort to tailor the programs to northern youth.
“Creating hope in remote communities is a huge part of what we’re trying to do here.”
This is actually one of the best statements I’ve read in a while about Nunavut youth, and I’m not sure if it’s funny or sad that it has to come from a private corporation rather than supposed leaders and politicians.
What’s sad is that you expect help to always from government. Why is that? Why can’t it come from elsewhere, including corporations?
I’m glad it’s coming from corporations, I think that’s great. I did not say I expect help from the government, I was saying that promoting a message of creating hope is something direly needed in this territory, and it’s something we don’t hear from leaders and governments that try to throw a bunch of money at the wall and hope it sticks. Creating an atmosphere of hope to encourage youth the pull themselves up by the bootstraps and making something of themselves, rather than relying on government handouts, should really be the goal.
Whats hilarious is how your knee jerk reaction was to impose the expectation from the government onto this commentator and then criticize them for your assumption, without actually reading the original comment. lmao damn how much more systemic racism can fit into a nunatsiaq news comment section?
” sad that it has to come from a private corporation rather than supposed leaders and politicians.”
Politicians implies government, that’s a reasonable assumption.
That my comment reflects ‘SyStEmAtIc RaCiSm’ is your ridiculous assumption.
wonder if they offer private aircraft training also??.