The future of the environment in the Sahtu region may be influenced by a pair of Norman Wells sisters someday.
At universities in British Columbia and Alberta, siblings Naokah Bailes and Jasmine Bailes are engaged in environmental studies.
Naokah, 21, the elder sister by three years, started out by taking general business courses at the University of Alberta between 2018 and 2020.
She then pivoted to nature-based tourism management at the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, B.C. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 specializing in community and tourism with a minor in environmental and sustainability studies. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 on pace to graduate in 2025.
SA国际影视传媒淢y goal coming out of high school was to continue guiding then get an education that can help me run my own tourism company in the NWT,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen I enrolled in nature-based tourism, I thought it was the perfect fit for my goals and ISA国际影视传媒檓 extremely happy with my decision so far.SA国际影视传媒�
Naokah has worked with a variety of outfitters since she was 13, and she realized that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lack of Sahtu Dene people in leadership roles in the tourism industry.
SA国际影视传媒淚 would like to change that, and create for opportunities for Dene residents to also become guides for hunting and canoeing outfitters,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 would like to be living in the Sahtu and I hope to spend as much time out on the land as possible. I would like to be welcoming tourists and giving them the full experience of the North, not just a canoe trip, hunting trip or hiking trip. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 important to enrich visitors with our culture and connection to the land of Treaty 11. Our land is sacred and true pristine wilderness is hard to find SA国际影视传媒� I want to help protect it. My dream job would have to be running a tourism business with my goals in mind, or working for the GNWT or Parks Canada in the tourism department.SA国际影视传媒�
She has already landed a seasonal student position with Parks Canada as a new media assistant, which has her drafting social media posts, writing advertorials and creating web pages on the Parks Canada NWT website SA国际影视传媒� work she can do remotely. She also continues to work on the N谋o 艃臋 PSA国际影视传媒櫮檔臋虂 project SA国际影视传媒� also known as the Trails of the Mountain Caribou program, which is funded by the Canadian Mountain Network and led by the Sahtu Renewable Resource Board.
Meanwhile, Jasmine is in her freshman year at the University of Alberta. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 in the bachelor of arts program with a major in environmental studies.
SA国际影视传媒淭hroughout high school, I really enjoyed my biology and physical geography classes. I decided to pursue that passion into university,SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding that her career path is a bit unclear. SA国际影视传媒淗owever, I do know that I want to work on the land in the Sahtu region in the future. This program ISA国际影视传媒檓 currently taking is a mix of business and biology, so ISA国际影视传媒檓 hoping itSA国际影视传媒檒l set me up for taking on a huge role in the SahtuSA国际影视传媒檚 environmental departmentSA国际影视传媒� I would also like to do my part as preserving the land for future generations of the Sahtu people.SA国际影视传媒�
During her summers in high school, Jasmine worked as a cook and cleaner at Gana River Outfitters.
SA国际影视传媒淔or the few moments in my day where I would be outside and get to enjoy the spectacular environment I was in, it urged me to learn more about it,SA国际影视传媒� she said of her summer job. SA国际影视传媒淚 started working there when I was 13, and even now as ISA国际影视传媒檓 18, I still go back every summer and fall in love with the mountains all over again.SA国际影视传媒�
Find more stories on NWT students advancing their education in the Degrees of Success 2022, available online here: See more: Degrees of Success 2022
Naokah and Jasmine both attended Mackenzie Mountain School in Norman Wells up to Grade 7. Then they transferred to Shawnigan Lake High School on Vancouver Island, a private boarding school. Their parents reinforced the importance of getting a good education and the time spent at that high school SA国际影视传媒減repared me greatly for university,SA国际影视传媒� said Naokah.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was a difficult decision at the time but the experience I had was worth it,SA国际影视传媒� she added.
The transition to the Vancouver Island educational facility was not easy, Jasmine admitted.
SA国际影视传媒淚 achieved low grades at the beginning of my time there, but I learned to adjust from the small Northern community to something totally new,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he academic support I received there was phenomenal, and I graduated with a 91 average. I was determined to get to post-secondary, for myself and for my family. I never would have thought I would have made it this far, truly.SA国际影视传媒�
She added that the educational experience in the south brought her and her sister closer together.
SA国际影视传媒淚 relied on her to show me around, make friends, and staying on top of everything,SA国际影视传媒� Jasmine said. SA国际影视传媒淚 really donSA国际影视传媒檛 think I could have made it through it without her. With her support, I ended up loving Shawnigan and the community we had together.SA国际影视传媒�
