The top Junior Canadian Rangers from across the North are in Yellowknife until Aug. 19, sharpening their leadership skills and building connections with their peers.
The 58 Junior Canadian Rangers come from Aklavik, Fort Providence, Fort Resolution, Whati and neighbouring northern territories Nunavut and the Yukon. Those chosen for the training have shown strong traditional, life and ranger skills and are already leaders in their communities.
A week of leadership training started off with a tour of Yellowknife Aug. 11. A three-leg canoe trip is one of the challenges Waheed Johnson, Junior Canadian Ranger officer, said the group will encounter.
“They'll have to organize and make sure everyone is safe and the canoes are all prepared. Then they'll have to navigate while on the water, which is going to be different from them navigating on the land,” he said.
Johnson added the week can also be a stepping stone for the careers of these 16 to 18 year olds.
“When they do maybe join the Canadian Rangers, they already have that much higher level leadership and maybe they assume the sergeant role, or master corporal or corporal role in the community,” he said.
“Or maybe they go on the civic side and become a counsellor, an elder, a chief. So we want to give them those tools.”