The Katimavik program: Where few have succeeded

SEAN McKIBBON
Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — Brenda Angoshadluk had something to prove when she signed up for the Katimavik youth program.

“I want to show my parents I can do it. I want to show them that I can live away from home on my own,” said Angoshadluk

Her older brother and sister said she couldn’t do it. Her father at first didn’t like the idea of her being away from home.

Even Angoshadluk herself thought she would never be selected. She signed up when she saw a notice on a bulletin board at her high school just to see if it would happen.

But it did happen for the 20-year-old lifeguard and secretary at Sakku Investments, and now she says she won’t let anything stop her.

‘I want to prove to my parents that I can live away from home. I want to show them I can do it,” she said.

Only four of the 12 young people from the NWT who signed up last year finished the eight-month program. They were selected in a lottery of applicants from the prairie provinces, the Yukon and NWT.

While there are only 200 spots for applicants from these three regions, all of the NWT applicants were selected.

The program, which sees young people from all over Canada work on community service projects, is under-subscribed by northerners, said Katimavik spokesperson Christine Rocheleau.

Of those who do sign up, Rochleau says many find the prospect of being in a strange place away from family and friends too daunting. Also the differences in language and culture can be a barrier to some Inuit youths she said. For others, the program just isn’t what they expected.

“Some think it’s going to be a holiday and don’t expect so much work,” said Rochleau.

“I won’t be like the others. I’m going to finish,” said Angoshadluk. She had to explain to her parents that the Katimavik program would let her travel to Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec, and allow her to gain work experience, take courses, and learn French.

“Once my mother found out I could take courses she said I should go for it because she never got to do anything like that when she was young,” said Angoshadluk. Because of Katimavik this will be the first time that Angoshadluk spends Christmas away from home.

“I’m going to miss her, but I want her to take advantage of all of the courses she can, because today we really need to educate ourselves to get going in this world,” said Angoshadluk’s mother Mary-Rose.

Her daughter will be grouped with 10 other Canadian young people between the ages of 17 and 21. The group will live in the same house and have to learn how to cook for themselves, manage a house and get along.

While she wasn’t sure what she would be doing in the program exactly, Angoshadluk said she expected she would be taking commerce and management courses as well as Grade 12 courses by correspondence.

“I want to travel all around the world some day,” she said.