Skip to content

Student on Ice participants return to shore

Two NWT youth recently returned home full of new ideas and enthusiasm after taking part in a Students on Ice trip that took them from Resolute Bay, Nunavut to Greenland this summer.

Jasmine Keogak of Sachs Harbour and Topsy Banksland of Ulukhaktok started their journey in Ottawa for pre-program activities before jetting back to the North to board a ship in early August.

They were among more than 100 youth from around the world who participated in the 16-day program that focused on climate change, among other things, according to the Students on Ice website.

“We went to a bird sanctuary and we went to Beechey Island,” said 17-year-old Keogak. “We went to Pond Inlet, visited a few fjords and then we crossed the Davis Strait into Greenland.”

They also saw lots of wildlife, including two polar bears, said Banksland, 19.

“I saw my first polar bear – like a live one,” she said. “And there was a lot of whales. It was really cool. I've only ever felt the fur and eaten a bear, but I've never seen one alive.”

Not only were they marvelled by the sights, but the girls learned about politics, climate change, arts and culture, and language from scientists, researchers and elders.

They took part in several workshops, including one where Banksland learned traditional throat singing – something she said she had been trying to learn more about at home before her trip.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Keogak, adding there were more than 40 students from the North who participated this year. “I would recommend it for a lot of people, from anywhere.”

Search and rescue for Paulatuk man

Paulatuk - The Canadian Coast Guard, local fire department and community members from Paulatuk were taking part in a search and rescue for a missing man outside the community on Sept. 6, according to a news release from the RCMP.

The search took place near Hornaday River, which is located approximately 10 km outside the community, the news release stated.

The man was reportedly crossing the river by ATV and may have entered the water.

“Efforts of witnesses who were travelling with the male were not successful in getting him out of the water due to the speed of the flowing water,” said the RCMP.

The man had not been located at the time of their news release on Sept. 7 and his name had not been released.

The Inuvik Drum requested an update on whether the missing man had been found, but the RCMP had not responded to the request as of press time on Sept. 12.