Hi, I’m David Kalluk, and I’m from Baker Lake, Nunavut, and this summer I’m in St. John’s. St. John’s is such a wonderful place with so many beautiful views. So far I’m enjoying it.

I’ve been exploring the outskirts of St. John’s and these adventures I’ve liked so far, I liked seeing all these amazing views on the hikes. I’ve been to abandoned WW2 ruins with graffiti, I honestly thought I wouldn’t have seen this kind of art but my host family and NYA have made it possible.

I did the Irish Loop with a couple stops, I saw some whales during the loop, and I also went to St. Vincent which is known for whales and is even called “The Whale Playground” but unfortunately we didn’t see any. While at the beach we saw some Northern Gannets that would dive every few minutes to catch some small fish. All these adventures we do always have breathtaking views and without a doubt stunning.

It is such an honor and is something I will take advantage of because this type of opportunity is so rare up in the north. I am so thankful for NYA for giving these types of opportunities to youth up in the north despite how expensive it is.

And I am glad to end up going this year because I have made great friends in the past 3 weeks, I will forever remember these moments with NYA! Having a program that helps build a bridge between schools, post-secondary, and work is so convenient. The work experience we get can and will help us participants in the future. I hope other youth in the north get to experience this like I have and make some memories and gain a very useful experience.

“Home isn’t always a place you’ve lived—sometimes it’s a place where people make you feel like you belong.”

When I left Tuktoyaktuk, I knew I was about to experience something completely different, but I never imagined how quickly Hamilton, Ontario would start to feel like a second home.

The moment that will stay with me forever happened the day we arrived. As soon as we met our host mom, she couldn’t stop smiling. She kept taking pictures of us, giving us hugs, and telling us how happy she was that we were finally here. Seeing her eyes fill with tears made me realize just how excited she was to welcome us into her family. That moment instantly made me feel comfortable, and I’ll never forget it.

Since then, we’ve been making memories every day. We’ve gone shopping, visited the zoo, spent a day at a carnival, gone to a concert, cheered at a football game, worked out at the gym, gone out to eat, and even had an awesome pool party. Every day has been a new adventure, and there has always been something exciting to look forward to. It’s amazing how much we’ve been able to experience in such a short amount of time.

One of my favourite parts of this experience has been trying foods I’d never eaten before. I finally tried asparagus, ramen, and jamaican food. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’m glad I stepped outside my comfort zone because I ended up enjoying all of them.

Hamilton is so different from Tuktoyaktuk. The traffic, the number of people, the variety of restaurants, and all the places to explore are completely different from what I’m used to. Even the time difference took some getting used to! At first it felt overwhelming, but now I find myself appreciating how much there is to see and do.

This trip has taught me that sometimes the best experiences happen when you’re willing to try something new. I’ve learned more than I expected—not just about Ontario, but about myself. I’ve become more confident, more open to new experiences, and more grateful for the opportunity to meet incredible people.

If you’re thinking about joining Northern Youth Abroad one day, my advice is simple: say yes. You never know where the experience will take you or the people you’ll meet along the way. I came here expecting to learn about a new place, but I’m leaving with unforgettable memories, new friendships, and a second family I’ll always be thankful for.

Hi!

My name is Helen, and I am from Fort Liard. Some of my favorite hobbies are listening to music, spending time with my friends and family, socializing, and snowboarding during the winters. I enjoy trying new things and exploring new places, which is one of the reasons I decided to join the NYA program this summer.

The NYA program gives northern students the opportunity to travel to southern Canada, gain hands-on work experience, continue their education, and learn more about themselves. I joined because I wanted to explore different career options and start thinking about what I want to do in the future. Although I wasn’t completely sure which path I wanted to take after school, I knew this would be a great opportunity to step outside my comfort zone, experience something new, and grow as a person.

This summer, I have been staying in Hamilton, Ontario, with my host family, Jeneka and her daughter, Tsuanna. They have been incredibly kind and welcoming. Being away from home can be challenging at times, but they have helped me feel comfortable, supported, and included. I truly appreciate everything they have done to make my stay enjoyable.

For my internship, I have been working at the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre. It has been an amazing experience because I have had the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people, and see how the organization supports the community. Everyone has been friendly and welcoming, and I have enjoyed learning from the staff while gaining valuable hands-on experience. This internship has helped me build confidence and given me a better understanding of what it’s like to work in a different environment.

Outside of work, I have had the chance to experience so many things that I had never done before. I visited shopping malls, tried a variety of restaurants, and attended concerts with great live music. I also went to a summer music festival, which was a lot of fun and gave me the opportunity to experience something different. One of my favorite experiences was attending a powwow, where I enjoyed the dancing, singing, and the strong sense of community. I also went to a pool party, which was a fun way to relax and spend time with others in the program. To celebrate Canada Day, I watched the fireworks, and it was a great way to end the evening.

One of the best parts of this experience has been meeting people from different places and learning about their cultures and life experiences. It has been interesting to hear everyone’s stories, make new friendships, and create memories together. Every day brings something new, whether it’s learning at my internship or exploring Hamilton and the surrounding area.

As the summer continues, I look forward to meeting even more people, trying new experiences, and learning as much as I can. I hope this opportunity will help me gain a better understanding of the career I want to pursue in the future. Even though I don’t have all the answers yet, I know this experience is helping me grow, become more independent, and build confidence in myself.

I am incredibly grateful to be part of the NYA program and thankful to everyone who has made this opportunity possible, especially my host family and the staff at the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre. This has already been an unforgettable experience, and I am excited to see what the rest of the summer has in store for me.

Hello! My name is Nika Angelique Arrowmaker.M, I’m from Gamètì, Northwest Territories. Which fun fact is one of the four Tłįcho communities located in the NWT. I’ve been staying in Kingston, Ontario for my summer placement with my buddy Addy!

During my time here we’ve been exploring and taking the opportunity to do things independently. At first I was a little lost and didn’t know how I would adjust to being away from home and my dog, but having my host mom Erin support and help me find ways to fill the void was really nice, especially with the help from Arlo (her dog) made everything felt like home.

When I first stepped foot on the plane I didn’t know I was about to experience one of the best trips of my life. There’s something powerful about stepping into places that are unfamiliar. For me, it was realizing how much of the world was out there and wanting to experience it all.

It’s something we must make time to do in our lives. It’s way to easy to get stuck in our routines and flow of life and what we’re used to and what we know. Travel doesn’t just open your eyes, it changes who you are inside, how you see the world, and will literally help you become the best version of yourself.

I work at the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest where everyone is welcomed and each day you never know how much you can impact people’s life by simply being in their presence.

I love my work because the centre is a place of support and reconnection that offers cultural and western supports, to children, youth, and elders. The centre is a safe place of openness and acceptance for all who wish to learn.

I highly encourage everyone to visit the centre if they are in Kingston! My favourite thing about the centre is the people and how everyone cares for each other no matter their background.

I’ve met some awesome people during my time here, from visiting the local park, exploring the downtown shops, and even talking to pet owners during our walks. Noticing how open everyone is to sharing their stories and letting us pet their pets made every experience here worth sharing.

Despite not being used to travelling alone, figuring out the bus, almost missing the bus, getting off the wrong stop, meeting new people is the kind of life I look forward to!

It’s a privilege to experience and learn other cultures while I’m young and I feel grateful for these kind of opportunities everyday <3

A person from my work said:

“Do something in your day that makes your soul feel alive whether that be your job, a hobby, or even a person, find people around you that wanna light you up and be happy for your successes. Everybody is destined for more.”

Northern Youth Abroad is an amazing start for just the beginning.

My name is Addyson and I’m from Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories. I’m 16 years old and currently on my way to graduating from high school. My sister did Northern Youth Abroad when she was my age and told me I should do it as well. This is a picture one of the NYA staff took while me and my buddy saying goodbye to our friend. She was going on a bus to the airport, and this was the last time we saw her before she left for her host family. We’re all looking forward to sharing stories once we get back for Re-Orientation in a few weeks.

I got to Kingston on June 20th. The squirrels here are MASSIVE compared to the ones back home, and they’re a little scary. I work at Martha’s Table, which is a community food center that offers food and supplies to people who may have little to no access otherwise. My favourite part of working at Martha’s Table is that I get to eat lunch there everyday and get to know the regulars. 

In Kingston I’m staying with my host mom Erin and her dog Arlo. My favourite thing about Arlo must be his annoying younger brother vibe. Me and my host buddy have been going out to the movie theater and watching scary movies. Something I am really looking forward to is getting my new ear piercing next month. I also really like the other people I’ve met through NYA, they are cool beans.

This is Erin’s dog Arlo. He is like an annoying younger brother. He steals food and even my lotion! He barges into my room all the time for cuddles. He’s  annoying, but I love him. I’ve even taken him for walks.

Hello, my name is Natalie Joss and I am from Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories. There are about 500 people, we are located in the Inuvik Region, and we are situated on Victoria Island. I want to thank my principal for being my mentor and encouraging me to do this program. (shout out Nick!) 

I am a participant for the Canadian Program in Northern Youth Aboard, and my host community is Orleans, Ottawa. It’s been a wonderful experience so far, and it is very beautiful here. During orientation, I made so many new friends, and they’re so amazing. At orientation, the staff had taught us so many things about being in huge cities, being away from family, and experiencing new things. 

This is not my first time across the country, but it is my first time in Ottawa. It is very beautiful here in Ottawa, and very hot. Everything is a wonderful journey, a huge experience, and something I would recommend to anyone. Because you get to make new friends, see new places, and gain a lot of work experience for the future. 

My work placement volunteer hours are being done at Orleans Heritage Spring Living Retirement Home, which was pretty cool. I served the seniors lunch, dinner, coffee, tea, and desserts. Then I am starting to help with more activities with the seniors.

My placement buddy is Rosalie Yukon, and I am so glad we get along so well. When I found out she has four younger brothers and one younger sister, I was like “what the heck”, because I have four younger sisters and one younger brother and we’re the oldest. We also have the best host mom ever, she’s amazing. We have plans for every single day of the week, and it’s just so much fun to do a lot of things with Tessa and Rosalie.

Hi, my name is Antonio Suvissak. I’m from Naujaat, Nunavut. I’ve met many people during my time at NYA and made new friends. I’m glad to be part of NYA. It was fun, and I’m still having fun in Ottawa. I learned how to row and swim. My favourite time was participating in Cirque du Soleil. They participated in various activities, including high rope courses, athletics, and dancing. It’s a French circus that performs worldwide. We also went to a Lebanese festival, where they had all sorts of rides, carnival games and snacks. It was fun.

We also went to the parliament we had a tour and went to the house of commons were we met Lori Idlout the MP of Nunavut. We also went to a football tournament the Ottawa versus Halifax team, and the Ottawa team won with 1-0 score. It was fun and exciting they also let us have the chance to let us high five the teams.

I met a lot of people while in the NYA group everyone was different and special in their own way I hope I get to meet them again! Thank you NYA it was a fun experience in Ottawa.