Blog

August 8th, 2017

Pearl has tried lots of new things in Chilliwack

My name is Pearlie Mae Howard and I am a 20 year old from a small town called Cambridge Bay, Nunavut with a population of 1,788 people. I am more than grateful to be accepted to the Northern Youth Abroad. Being a participant has taught me so many life lessons that I cannot wait to use very soon in my future. NYA has helped me gain leadership skills, they have helped me grow as a young adult all the way through to learning to travel on my own far away from my home community.

I was placed in Chilliwack, BC and I am a supervisor at the Chilliwack Central Elementary School Society with their Summer Fun Day Camp. My job is to look after children around the ages of 5-12 years old. I supervise the children with two very strong and inspiring women at the Day Camp. We plan and engage fun activities like arts and crafts, outdoor games and walks around the community from one park to another.

Chilliwack has a population of 87,000 people and what feels like hundreds of fun places to go; there are multiple water parks as well as lakes we can swim at and not only that but I’ve gone wake-boarding for the first time in my whole life, it was a great experience. There are multiple amusement parks that I’ve gone to, community libraries, skate and bike parks, recreational centres and tons of arts and culture museums. I’ve also gone through a food cycle where my host parents and I biked for 5 hours from farm to farm to learn a bit about what they do there and how they’re contributing all of it with the future. I also got to learn a bit whole bunch about this community; it is filled with bannock-loving Aboriginal people and during the summer breaks they hold pow-wows to show their community that their culture and people are still alive living among them. Archeological records date the presence of Aboriginal people in the area today known as Chilliwack and the Fraser Valley, to be approximately 10,000 years ago. At the time of first contact it is estimated that there may have been as many as 40,000 to 60,000 people living within Sto:lo territory. The Town of Chilliwack was incorporated in 1873, and is the third oldest municipality in British Columbia.

I have enjoyed my stay here and can see myself coming back here later in my future.

August 8th, 2017

Matt gives us an update from Belleville

Hey, my name is Matt Kanayok, I’m 17 and I’m from Ulukhaktok, NT. I’m currently in the Northern Youth Abroad program at the Canadian phase, meaning that other participants and I are placed all throughout Southern Canada to experience life in the south.

My placement is in Belleville, Ontario. Sadeedi (my placement buddy) and I are staying with Maggie and Billy, our super awesome host parents! Not to mention Monty, the cutest googly-eyed dog I have ever seen. 

My host parents are amazing and kind and I can keep going on, but to summarize they are the best and I can’t rightly express how grateful and appreciative I am of them.

The day after we arrived they took us to Waterfront, which is basically a carnival with so many new things that I never had the chance to try until then. One of our favorite rides was Zero Gravity, that didn’t require you to use any seatbelts because it spun and used centrifugal force to keep you on the ride, so you could just relax with your back against it. Least to say, it was definitely one of the best first day experiences I’ve ever had! We also did other cool things like attending a Pow Wow, going through the entirety of a 5-km run at foam fest, and checking out the nearby beach!

I work at the Quinte Arts Council and I’m currently in charge of managing and improving the online store, but I try to help out where I can. My coworkers are also very nice and welcoming people, and our chats together are always fun!

My time in Belleville has definitely been great and I love every moment of it so far! I’m so glad that I was chosen and that my mentor encouraged me to try in the first place. NYA has really allowed me to grow as a person and cultivate my own identity, meet incredible people I’m
happy to call friends, and to let me make new memories that I’ll definitely look back at fondly.

Thanks!

August 3rd, 2017

Danielle tells us about her expeirence in Port Alberni

Hi, my name is Danielle Mantla and I am from Gameti, Northwest Territories which is a small town,  with only about 300 people. I am very thankful to have been accepted to participate in the NYA Canadian program. Before I started my placement we had an orientation with everyone involved with the program and I got to meet some really amazing people. People that I can finally say are my friends.

After orientation my buddy and I travelled to our host community which is the beautiful town of Port Alberni, BC on Vancouver Island. Living here for the summer and learning how things are here has been challenging. Seeing the mountains and how close they are is pretty fascinating.
Since being on my placement I have gotten the chance to go to Nanaimo which is also on Vancouver Island as well as Ucluelet, Parksville, camping at Mussel Beach, and visiting Tiger Lilly’s Farm. While at Tiger Lilly’s farm I got the chance to go horseback riding which was really exciting. I loved it and it was probably the highlight of my summer so far.
I wouldn’t have done these things without my host family providing the opportunities which I am grateful for. My host parent and their 2 daughters have lived in Northern Canada before which is pretty cool. They also have 5 pets including a dog, 3 cats, and a fish. I also have a dog back home so it’s nice to have a dog around to make it feel like home.
At my work placement, I work at a Daycare with older and younger kids. I like working at the daycare even though the kids can get a little wild sometimes. The people I work with are pretty nice once you get to know them.
Being part of this program has been such an amazing opportunity and I am so glad that I went for it. I’ll definitely be telling everyone back home who is interested in gaining work experience and having an amazing time to apply for NYA!
August 3rd, 2017

Susannah shares with us her experience in London

Hello, my name is Susannah Mablik and I am from Naujaat, Nunavut. My placement is in London, Ontario and my work placement is at the University of Western Ontario (Indigenous services). The people I work with are so kind and welcoming. I got to participate with the mini university students and spent two nights with them at the Ontario Hall. I learnt so much from their culture.
My host mother has two boys and a cat, and she also fostered two people. They have a swimming pool, trampoline, and a fire pit. My buddy and I enjoy swimming in the pool. 
 
I have went to many different places with my buddy and host family including a Pow wow, Niagara Falls, two different zoos (one in London and other in Niagara). We are also going to Canada’s wonderland on Monday
 
August 3rd, 2017

Branden gives us an update on his experience with the NYA Next program

Hi, my name is Branden Hardisty and I am 17 years old. I completed the Canadian phase of NYA back in 2016 and this year I am in the Next program. In the Next Program we stay at Algonquin Collage in Ottawa where we learn all sorts of things including construction and building. During the construction class I learned how to use tool and machines and built a dog house. We also got to learn about healthy living, nutrition and physical activity. Also in a few weeks we’ll be going to Montreal for sigh seeing before we head back to re-orientation. We have engaged as volunteer doing a service learning project, participated in fun activates around Ottawa, and competed a personal learning project which is based on our career interests. I’m really excited for my personal learning project as I am going to take Spanish lesson as it has always been a goal for me to learn another language. We also went camping which I had a great time at. The program has really helped me prepare for the next steps after high school. I am glad I got the chance to be apart of the NYA program again this year and I hope the rest of my summer goes well.

August 3rd, 2017

Check out how Kat has been finding her time in Costa Rica

Hi everyone, my name is Kat and I am currently with on the International phase of the NYA in Costa Rica which is so beautiful and pure. The saying of Pura Vida is really true to its word “pure life” “good life” which is a beautiful saying here in Costa Rica. The adventures that we go on are always different and new which makes this experience so much fun. The other day we did a presentation to the Canadian embassy in Costa Rica everything went really well.
The first week we were here it was pretty hard to believe that we were actually in Costa Rica as it took awhile to actually feel like I’m in a different country.

This week the group is going to be volunteering our time with an non-profit organization called “lifting hands”. It was a lot of fun working there as we go to help with the kids and played some soccer with the locals. It was very interesting because the boys only spoke Spanish but we eventually understood what was going on. I’m looking forward spending more of my time volunteering.
It’s been about 3 weeks since we got here in the next few days we’re going to be on a 13 day hike which is going to be intense although I’m excited to be more connected to the land.
Being here in Costa Rica makes me want to fully learn how to speak in Spanish.I’m looking forward on finishing this international program with everyone that’s on the team and have a memorable experiencing to look back on!
Pura Vida.

August 3rd, 2017

Hear all about Sadeedi’s experience in Belleville

Hi my name is Sadeedi Gargan. I am from Fort Providence and I am 16 years old. I am a 2017 NYA participant in the Canadian program. My experience down south has been awesome. I get to do stuff that I don’t really get to do in my community.

My host family is so awesome! They take good care of Matt and I, and ask if we are ok! There so sweet! I am having such a great time with them. They always have some fun activities to do in Belleville. I am so grateful that Billy and Maggie took Matt and I into their beautiful home! You da best!

My work placement is in a thrift store called Salvation Army. My work placement has been great so far, I met some interesting new people. At my work, I help sort clothes and other stuff. Some days I go upstairs and help the lady’s in the kitchen by cutting up vegetables and clean up for them!
My co workers have been really great to me asking if I’m ok and if I had my breaks! They are all so nice!

The activities I mostly do in Belleville include walks with Billy, Maggie and Monty, going skateboarding, going shopping at the mall, and working outI try to go out as much as possible and this Saturday I am going to a foam fest which I am so excited!

I am loving it here in Belleville and I am also really enjoying myself this summer, making new friends and memories! I am having a great experience so far and I can’t wait to here about everyone else’s!

August 3rd, 2017

Patti fills us in on her experience in Costa Rica

Hi, my name is Patricia Wedawin and I am in the International phase of Northern Youth Abroad. This year we are in Costa Rica and it is beautiful. The trip from Ottawa to Costa Rica was very long, but worth it as we saw San Jose from above and it was breath taking. We seen waves of the Pacific Ocean crashing shores, miles and miles of big green trees and mountains. We met our tour guide, Jimmy, at the San Jose airport and he showed us a little part of San Jose shortly after settling into our place at United World College.  The next day we had to leave to CIRENAS which is a centre that creates transformative connections between people and the environment through education, research, integration and innovation. We travelled by a ferry, then walked on a beach to CIRENAS for an hour and a half while a vehicle had our luggage. You could imagine what we felt, mesmerized by the waves and salt-tasting air. When we arrived at CIRENAS, we were welcomed with loads of food and water and a natural kind of juice with electrolytes in it. Then the group spilt up into cabins, one for the boys, another for the girls, and all three chaperones in another. We then had an introduction to the center and a lecture about Costa Ricans, who are called “Ticos”. Then we ended our night at the beach watching the sunset while swimming, which was my first time swimming in an ocean. The sunset was the most beautiful one I have ever seen. We had a horseback riding tour the next day through Hacienda Ario to explore the sabanero way of llife at Nicoya Peninsula. We’re having a great time learning so many new things about Costa Rica and also about each other. Some are already fearing the goodbyes we’re going to have to endure at the end of the program. But we’re looking forward to our next adventures at United World College.

August 3rd, 2017

Laila updates us on her time in Glencoe, ON

Laila at Orientation in Ottawa, on Nunavut Night

Hi, my name is Laila Onalik and I am from Kimmirut, Nunavut.

I am placed in Glencoe, Ontario. I work at a daycare centre called the ELM Children Centre. This work placement is so much fun. To be honest I didn’t want to work with children, but I’m glad I was placed here, working with children. They enjoy me working here, I love them and the children and workers love having me here. I enjoy throat singing and singing for the children in Inuktitut although they don’t know what I’m saying. It’s fun. My co-workers are very heart warming and welcoming, we all have built a great relationship together.

My host family is very welcoming and comforting. I have 2 host siblings, Danielle who is 11 and Michael who is 10. They enjoy that I am staying with them. My host parents are awesome and fun, they treat me like their own. They have hosted students from Europe and France before, to learn English, and this is their first year hosting for NYA. They are very generous and amazingly kind!

Things here in Glencoe are very different from my home town. The price of food is lower, the weather is overwhelming – the humidity, the rain and thunderstorms. Glencoe is a small community. It’s quiet and the people all know each other, but the population is way different than home. There is about 2000 people in Glencoe.

I have done so many things so far. The week I arrived here my friend picked me up for shopping and we went to London, Ontario. I loved it! About 2 weeks ago we all went to the Toronto Zoo for the day! I had so much fun, I got to see some animals I have never seen before. My favourite animal there were the Pandas!! After the zoo we picked up a student in Toronto. Her name is Marie, she is here in Canada to learn English.

At my workplace I made some bannock for the staff and children. They all loved it, only because I made it like my aunt does (lol). It was their first time and they enjoyed every bite of the it; made me feel great!

We did a road trip too, to Niagara Falls! It was amazing to see one of the world wonders, I love it there. Those falls are a must see, it’s so beautiful and overwhelming. I had so much fun. We also went to this place called ‘Ripley’s believe it or not’ it had odd things but it was fun. We ate at a rainforest café, it was cool, felt like a real rainforest! I also went to the best place for chicken wings in St. Catherine’s, the wings were amazing!

My time down south has been a roller coaster, an amazing opportunity and life experience. This program opened my eyes, I can say I have stepped out of my comfort zone. I made it this far and I’m not giving up! I hope to be joining the NYA next program, next year. I encourage other Nunavummiut to apply – it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. Thank you for taking your time to read!