The Global Vision Arctic Youth Ambassador summit offered a Sundre student the unique opportunity to connect with, as well as obtain more insight about the challenges faced by Inuit people.
"We learned so much about the cultural and political issues," said Keyanna St.Dennis, who was the only student from Alberta to participate in the Oct. 25-29 event attended by 50 youth from across the country in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
Education and climate change were two focal points around which the discussions largely revolved, she said.
Providing additional perspective were about a dozen youths from Nunavut, who toured the summit's participants around their community to show them what life is like in the North.
Experiencing the daily issues faced by youth in Nunavut in person as opposed to hearing about the challenges in a classroom setting or presentation was eye-opening, she said, adding one of the biggest hurdles with education is the language barrier.
"That's one thing they struggle with," she said on Oct. 31 after returning home from the Calgary Airport in the early morning hours.
"Most of the youth there and most of the people there speak Inuktitut. They all speak that as their first language."
Yet the school's curriculum is essentially an English carbon copy of the provincial program used in Alberta, she said.
Climate change has also created some significant hurdles for northern communities to overcome, as thawing permafrost is resulting in shifting ground that has a detrimental impact on infrastructure and buildings. Efforts to mitigate and reduce the impact of warming temperatures are always being considered, she said.
The Sundre High School Grade 11 student said her favourite part of the trip was meeting the people.
"That was huge," she said.
"I thought I knew some things about Nunavut but I didn't. I learned a lot."
Although the younger generations in Nunavut care about climate change, she said the more pertinent and pervasive problems they struggle to deal with include education and mental health. From drug addictions to abusive family life, "they have a tough time growing up there."
Food security is also a constant woe, she said, with northern communities commonly spending upwards of three times as much on grocery store goods as other Canadians.
St.Dennis said she started to tear up after being told by one of the youths that while making donations to places such as Africa is commendable, Canadians should also remember there is no shortage of people who are in desperate need right here at home.
Overall, she described the summit as "absolutely amazing" and said she would be happy to share stories about her experience with anyone who wants to chat. She also expressed gratitude for all of the sponsors that contributed to making the trip possible, which taught her among other lessons more about the importance of listening.
"I heard that from so many people ó they just want someone to listen to them," she said, adding that relates to just about anyone, anywhere.
"If a friend is struggling, just be there to listen. That's a big thing for people to know, is just listen."
