Young Northerners visit Iqaluit as Jane Glassco Fellows

A group of 10 young people from Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Yukon are hoping their experience studying public policy will make the North a better place.

This year's Jane Glassco Northern Fellows wrapped up a visit to Iqaluit this week, where they learned about policy analysis in Nunavut, attended a panel discussion with the city's mayor and the former languages commissioner, and volunteered at the Iqaluit Food Centre.

The two-year policy and leadership development program, which began in 2010, is aimed at Northerners between the ages of 25 and 35 who want to build a strong North.

'We're all passionate about the Arctic'

"We're all passionate about the Arctic, and the lives our people live as Northerners, so it was just natural to be a part of this program," said 27-year-old Angela Nuliayok Rudolph from Gjoa Haven, Nunavut.

Each fellow applies with an idea for a research project to study while in the program.

Nuliayok Rudolph, a former teacher, is hoping to improve education policy for Inuit students.

"I'm looking into programs to connect Inuit youth throughout the circumpolar north."

Nuliayok Rudolph said the fellowship program, including the trip to Iqaluit, has been instrumental in helping her achieve her goals, but it was a trip to Ottawa this past February that helped her realize she's on the right track.

"We met with Natan Obed, the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. He's been a real inspirational leader for me.

"All the things that I'm interested in, in academia, came to life at that moment when he spoke about Inuit education and issues that Inuit face in Nunavut and across Canada."

Nuliayok Rudolph is currently headed back to Fairbanks, Alaska, where she's completing her masters degree in Arctic policy, but she said it's her northern connections that motivate her to keep pushing forward.  

"We see that a lot of policy that is written for Northerners is written by southern Canadians… and we see that it doesn't really fit the issues that we see in our communities... and we want to bridge the gaps between those deficits."

Life-changing connections

Yellowknife fellow, 33-year-old Dawn Tremblay, echoed Nuliayok's Rudolph's enthusiasm for the program — but she said the opportunity to connect with the other fellows in the program has been the highlight for her.

"It's exciting to see the research [the fellows] are doing and gain knowledge through what they share."

Tremblay, who works at Ecology North in Yellowknife, is studying sustainable waste management strategies for northern communities.

While she's grateful for the travel and networking opportunities the fellowship has provided, she stressed that she's learning as much from her young colleagues as she is from prominent leaders.

"I think one of the biggest takeaways is the connection with the other fellows, and the learning around the realities and complexities in the neighbouring territories."

LIke Nuliayok Rudolph, Tremblay is now heading home, but the learning will continue.

The group will meet for a fourth and final time in Yellowknife before the end of this year.