Henry Ongahak loves his work in the mining sector, and strongly urges other young Inuit to consider similar careers.
SA国际影视传媒淎 hundred per cent, I recommend it,SA国际影视传媒� the 27-year-old said from his job site on a remote patch of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Kitikmeot region. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a good opportunity. I get to travel the world. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 wicked.SA国际影视传媒�
Ongahak, who was born in Yellowknife and raised in Bathurst Inlet and Kugluktuk, works as an underground development miner at B2GoldSA国际影视传媒檚 Goose project, the most advanced of five mineral claim blocks along an 80-km belt in NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Back River region.
He started with the company in 2018, spurred by the SA国际影视传媒渓ack of job opportunitiesSA国际影视传媒� in Kugluktuk. He has held his current position at the Goose project since late last year, when he was cleared for underground work SA国际影视传媒� a professional breakthrough he said SA国际影视传媒渇elt very good.SA国际影视传媒�
He has numerous responsibilities in his current role, but spends much of his 12-hour days running supplies like rebar and cable in and out of the mine with a boom truck, a type of mobile crane.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 tough work.
SA国际影视传媒淭he long days are challenging,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淗aving never been underground before and being new to that was kind of challenging too, having to learn all these new things.SA国际影视传媒�
However, Ongahak prefers to focus on the positives of the job SA国际影视传媒� and there are many, he contends.
SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檙e out of the weather, out of the cold [when youSA国际影视传媒檙e underground],SA国际影视传媒� he said, laughing. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 definitely a plus side. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot warmer.
SA国际影视传媒淵ou work half the year too,SA国际影视传媒� he added. SA国际影视传媒淵ou get half the year off, which is another good plus side.SA国际影视传媒�
When Ongahak finishes his 12-hour shifts, he returns to camp for some hard-earned downtime.
The food on site is SA国际影视传媒済reat,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey feed you so good. You eat well here.SA国际影视传媒�
He also enjoys spending time in the recreation room, where he often encounters people he knows from Kugluktuk, and other communities, such as Cambridge Bay.
SA国际影视传媒淲e hang out a lot,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e play some pool. The rec room here has pool and golf, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 a got a hunting game which is good too.SA国际影视传媒�
OngahakSA国际影视传媒檚 father also works at the site, and he savours the time theySA国际影视传媒檙e able to spend together during their downtime.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a gym here,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e been taking my dad to the gym, getting him back into shape.SA国际影视传媒�
Ongahak said he isnSA国际影视传媒檛 sure what his future with B2Gold holds, as he prefers to SA国际影视传媒済o with the flowSA国际影视传媒� when it comes to his career. However, that doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 mean he doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have professional goals. One of his main areas of focus is doing everything he can to keep his job site safe.
SA国际影视传媒淚t is one of my goals to make this place a safer, better place to work and a better environment,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淪afety is a huge thing,SA国际影视传媒� he added, noting that he fills out daily field level hazard assessment (FLHA) cards, which help make frontline workers aware of possible safety hazards on site.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 also on the mine rescue team. There was a lot of training there,SA国际影视传媒� he noted.
Ongahak remembers the moment he first became interested in underground mining work.
It was SA国际影视传媒測ears back,SA国际影视传媒� he said, when he worked a few rotations at Hope Bay, a Kitikmeot gold property owned by Agnico Eagle.
SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 drive by the portal every day, and ISA国际影视传媒檇 say, SA国际影视传媒楬ey, I want to go work underground one day,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� he recalled. SA国际影视传媒淗ere I am working underground now.SA国际影视传媒�
His advice to any young Inuit with similar interest in the mining industry is simple.
SA国际影视传媒淚f you get the proper training and the right guys to do the proper training with you, you will succeed,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淜eep a positive mind and work hard to fulfill your goals.
SA国际影视传媒淚f I can do it, you can do it.SA国际影视传媒�
