Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
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Volume 63 • Issue 23
Providence partnership creates Inuit pilot training program
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
Brenda Sawatzky, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Representatives from Providence University College, Harv’s Air Service, and Canadian North Airlines gather to witness the signing of their new partnership agreement. people of the north with Canadian North. “Today, I your magnetic compass Inuit students will find ments,” says Providence essential goods and servi- hope this will be the first doesn’t work anymore so housing on the Providence professor Nicholas Greco. ces for more than 70 years. major step in changing we have to have what’s campus as well as resources Rodyniuk says that these This upcoming Septem- They service 25 Indigenous that.” called true north directional such as an English language ideals align with those of ber, Providence University communities in the NorthThe aviation program at indication.” program to improve their Canadian North, making College will extend their west Territories, Nunavut, Providence, which spans Other phenomena like English proficiency if need- the partnership a good one. long-standing aviation pro- and the Nunavik territory nearly 40 years, is unique the northern lights can also ed, although De Caria says As well, Canadian North gram to include a unique in northern Quebec. In this to any other flight school wreak havoc with radio in- that most Inuit students has a historical connection Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham new pilot training program region, two percent of Can- in Manitoba in that students strumentation, he adds. with a high school degree with Harv’s Air, whose that catersFoundation specifically Addictions of to Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. ada’s population is spread can gain a degree in busiThe partnership deal have a good working know- chairman received his piInuit students. out across 40 percent of the ness management while with Providence will en- ledge of English. lot’s license with Harv in BYPartnering IAN GRAHAM all the harsh weather write things you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ a veryNorth safe thing when people say theFor with Canadian to country’s landthat mass. working to attain their pilot was trust not Canadian with swallow De Caria, herself of Inuit 1970s. EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET I have all these stories and figure out. It’s pretty clear to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers polar North Airlines, the new pro- to Almost all of these com- license. the obligation of selecting descent, says that Canadian For many years,ofProviThough now written I gethave through.” to capture for thought that was exciting justensure find somewhere if it gram will she’s emphasize train- when munities no road or I need “I started mythem career high-potential Inuit stu- should North will that Inuit bears, dence deMeulles has been said known a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would ing students from the north rail access. The residents many years ago and I can dents for the program. Suc- students will be looked af- as a welcoming place for ces up in book, rely titledonWhispers in because will be lost if they started throwing the ter“To say, ‘Thosetopeople moved backaround to Churchwhogrowing will return toChurchill, serve the her therefore air service tell you they that… sometimes cessful graduates will then when it comes flying have students from the Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Storiesoffrom the Ipilots don’t.” and I realized, ‘Holy to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. north. for the movement people, are in high demand fuel haveoff a guaranteed offer of choose home between semesters. globe. Manitoba director Lifecrucial in Churchill for and She also has athey’re reputation I was probably sitting should leave,’ is quite “I missisthe “We’re northern at a time now North food, -and goods. sometimes not cats, employment with Canadian Once a just student studying in “This notshoreline, the mostI Gisele deMeulles said writa couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disremiss the rock, I miss that the where we’re facing a fairly Flight is often the only way in high demand, as it was in North. Montreal, she keenly recalls threatening campus ing wasn’t she to “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though severe pilot something shortage in this access medical care and the late 1980s when I was a For the past 40 years, the culture shock she ex- you’re going to find,” Analways shearound would you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people herhas on partnered was the same boatand in another area they’re dangerous countrythought and right government services. pilot,” says Canadian North spurred Providence perienced the struggles derson very says. “It’s notand as do. tory, this stuff that’s in my hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson stories and they would go, the world,” says Providence The goal of Canadian president and CEO Michael with Harv’s Air Service of she faced when she was large as some others, and I “In myKenton youthAnderson. I never North head, it’s to bethese gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d tell go, since the Hudson Bay Railthat so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “Whenplace I go president is going to equip Rodyniuk. “And I can Steinbach to deliver the about disconnected from family think we’re a friendly felt writing,” she if I don’twith writeeducation it down,” and she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way the option to do that? home, standing on the suspended “So good we’reatexcited to help people you that having a broad aviation trainingoperations for their have and friends throughout her back that students can quickly said. when IIt’s moved didn’t do all that, did kids are not of Gillam lastaverage spring. Icollege think years. right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on meet “But that need. one said. career“My opportunities that goha- ‘You educational background is north program. For the adapt to.” to Thompson to get into ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an thing for some of us to hear ven’t been readily available what carried me through.” student, tuition and flight While the backbone of For Rodnyiuk, bringing the school of shortage social work, it’s until something I was like, ‘No,program actually thriving community a political at game and that’s incredible sense.to You so about a pilot and and to them now. I’ve al- old.’ The Providence training large together comes in education Providence the Inuit culture thefeel south at thatabout point how I hadittomight write ways wanted to Iisdid all that before was and just dwindled for them because andhave you feel great.” think “What is notmy lostmom on me unique as well in itsI abilwithit’s a $120,000 pricedown tag. really placessad a strong emphasis onI small will also its merits. for university and realized, My mom’s elder and they went ‘What?’” suchInuit a small population the people of students ChurchNow she’sthings got affect our vacation. But it’s do. is the fact that, an while weand are 27,’ ity to equip students with to For students, fed- think the Christian faith, “One ofthat the great ‘Holy, I’m not bad at thing this, she’s an artist, she’s got so now,” deMeulles says. one book under her belt, Looking back, some of ill really want to thrive. a completely different a 100 percent Inuit-owned aviation skills specifically eral grant funding will of any faith, culture, or is not so much the spreadright?’ I certainly developed stories be- those experiences are flying. things help Though not there They’ve builtare their worlds deMeulles she maylife try when we’re talking about many airlinewonderful committed to Inuit required for northern cover she’s approximately background welcome. ing of thesays southern a lot of skill in university cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and there. How would we feel to produce another. a lifeline, as it affects… and Indigenous self-reli“There’s some unique 70 percent of their tuition, “All of the students that experience to our Inuit and came outsupply of therechain with stories at the Parks Canada in radio “I did some pretty bizarre sister and other someone and students, “I have but another in things like ance, for most part, the navigation aids and her accommodation, andfamily sup- if come in docame taketoayou certain morebook so the a very strong skill in my Churchill and I’vethat always like fuel intohapthe members ‘I’mofsorry, you that haveare to me,” says. sharing “It’s a darker are. resource availability.” men and women are stuff training thathauls has to ply costs. still According to De said, number courses Inuit she students their writing and North confidence in hounded ‘Please, at -35,” said Caria, “Myother cousin owns the leave your home community story, about personCanadian is a 100 [flying theher, planes] into just our high pen,” Arctic Rodyniuk says. “You organizational biblically and theologicculturalmore background and the my writing. I write very put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she and we’re going to displace al growth and percent Inuit-owned airline communities are not Inuit,” can imagine when you get funding is available to help ally based, but that’s only rich history that struggles. they have clear and that’s it. It’s there. for because story meto until you somewhere elserequireand all Maybe insouthern the next fifolks.” ve years that has been connecting saysyou Shelley Deyour Caria of on close theafter. northThat polewas thata says. subsidize the rest. a small part of their with the BY BRENDA SAWATZKY
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, THE NIVERVILLE CITIZEN
Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
is going to be lost,’ and she’s never done it and I thought,
very dangerous thing to do. Being on a plane full of fuel
Because of that, deMeulles finds it hard to
your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”