Community Liaisons

“She sits at the back of the hall, listening to experts from far away talking in a language not her own about the fate of the bush she has roamed all her life.” (Weber, 2006).

By taking the community as the starting or referent point, GAPS adopts a bottom-up approach that will effectively involve Arctic communities, as well as explicitly articulate the need for interdisciplinary research on the impacts of change in the Arctic. The GAPS research team will include community liaisons and will communicate and collaborate with communities, local organizations, and pay active attention to the well-articulated need for comprehensive, participatory research on the impacts of oil and gas development in Arctic communities (AHDR 2004; ACIA 2005; AIL 2005).

Northern Youth

Another goal of International Polar Year (which is actually two years), is to work with northern youth in building a genuine legacy from the research that will serve Arctic peoples. The GAPS project started out with an inter-disciplinary team, from among which a number of the leaders are from the north. We are also employing young people from the communities to assist us with our fieldwork. There is no doubt that some of them will be the leaders of tomorrow, and we hope that their experiences with the GAPS project will hold some inspiration for as they pursue their goals.

- Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada

Sidonie Nirlungayuk

My name is Sidonie Nirlungayuk . I live in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. I am an Inuk. I am also an 18 year old high school graduate. I plan to become a hair stylist this year until I decide what I really want to become. This summer I am working at the Visitors Information Center. I enjoy it very much because I get to meet many new people and learn a bit about each one. I love all the different stories from the visitors.

Ramona (Mona) Menicoche

My name is Mona Menicoche and I am seventeen years old and going into grade eleven. I am currently living in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. I am of Metis descent, and I am part Dene from my mother, and Caucasian from my father. I am interested in a broad range of academic subjects –science, philosophy, history and arts. I do not have a long-term career goal in mind, but I hope to find something that interests me in the next few years.

Sasha Sims

My name is Sasha Simms and I live in Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. I have just finished grade 11 and for the summer of 2008 I am working at the Visitor Information Center. This is my first year, and I like it very much, because I get the chance to meet a lot of new, different and neat people.

I enjoy science and math. I like children a lot and I’m interested in becoming a pediatrician, which is a medical doctor specializing in children. But, I am still thinking about what I want to do, so I am not quite sure if this is what I will aim for.

Brittany Hardisty-Isaiah

My name is Brittany Hardisty-Isaiah, I am an aboriginal and I was born and raised in Fort Simpson, North West Territories. I am currently going into grade 12, and this summer is my first year working at the Visitors Information Center. I am very interested in eco-tourism because my goal in life is to become a river guide and travel around the world. I enjoy everything about the outdoors from camping to canoeing and more. I also love art, but although I am artistic, this would be my second choice for a career, if the river guiding plan does not come through.

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