Focus of my studies/work
Right now I am still a high school student, potentially graduating this coming June, located here in my hometown Gjoa Haven, Nunavut. My goal is to pursue higher education in a field related to climate change, outdoor education, and mental health. I am passionate about supporting Indigenous communities, mainly focused on youth who face challenges with support to stay consistent with school, mental health, addiction, and overall suicide prevention.
Purpose of your travel
My purpose of the trip was to experience the unknown, educate myself more about climate change and different challenges faced by northern communities and youth, and discover potential career paths I might be interested in. Being 18 years old, the bare minimum to apply for the Arctic Youth Conference and the Kristin Harila x AMAP youth expedition, it was a shock to me that I got selected to participate in both opportunities, which don't happen very often in my case. I had some idea of what I would learn or experience, but I truly had no concept of how it would feel. I had never solo-traveled 7 flights to a whole different continent before or skied 70 km in Finnmark. So, it was expected to feel some sort of pressure or deal with challenges in the journey. I definitely had a better understanding of climate change, community wellness, culture, and more about myself by the end of it, which resulted in more confidence and resilience within myself and gave me hope for the future. That being said, these experiences allowed me to form lasting connections, meaningful memories, and personal growth. Attending the Arctic Youth Conference and Kristin Harila x AMAP youth expedition helped me rediscover my connection with nature and community. I am very inspired to make the most out of this lifetime and further my education for the sake of the Arctic and generations to come, thanks to the people I've met in the expedition, including the knowledge and networking during the conference.
Impact of the grant
The grant had a great impact on my ability to participate in the Arctic Youth Conference and Kristin Harila x AMAP Youth Expedition. As a resident of Nunavut, Canada's most remote territory, traveling outside the territory is a financial challenge in itself. Without the grant, attending both events would be unrealistic on my part due to the cost of flights, and I would have likely missed out on the experience. The grant helped me expand my knowledge and provided important insights from multiple perspectives within the Arctic Circle. Being able to travel outside of my home country with the help of the grant is truly a blessing.
Part of the YoungArctic project, financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway. YoungArctic is a collaboration between High North Center (at Nord University), UArctic, and the International Arctic Social Sciences Association (IASSA).Follow the project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngarcticproject/