A group of young people from Tuktoyaktuk recently had the opportunity to share knowledge about their traditional beluga harvest while in Rome, Italy.

It was a SA国际影视传媒渓ife-changingSA国际影视传媒� experience, according to Natalie Noksana, one of four participants.

SA国际影视传媒淭he difference between all the cultures that I experienced during my time in Rome has opened my eyes so much,SA国际影视传媒� the 28-year-old mother of two said after returning home to Tuktoyaktuk. SA国际影视传媒淲e are all very thankful for this trip, and it has given us many lessons that we will carry throughout the rest of our lives.SA国际影视传媒�

Noksana and her three compatriots visited Rome for the United Nations Food and Agricultural OrganizationSA国际影视传媒檚 Global Indigenous Youth Forum.

It was a whirlwind experience from beginning to end.

It began this summer, when the University of Alberta began looking for Tuktoyaktuk residents to lead some on-the-land programming surrounding the beluga harvest. Noksana, who identifies as SA国际影视传媒渙ne of the first female beluga harvesters in the community,SA国际影视传媒� needed some convincing from members of the local hunters and trappers committee, but ultimately decided to apply, and was soon accepted as an instructor for the program.

SA国际影视传媒淲e ran a beluga harvesting program where we took youth out to the island and they ran everything from harvesting the whale to sampling the whale, to learning to prepare the whale and store it for our traditional food for the winter, and when they were done, they shared with the Elders and the single moms in the community.SA国际影视传媒�

In early October, after the program concluded, the university invited Noksana and fellow program participants Jeannie Gruben, Brianna Gruben, and Kyle Cockney to Edmonton to see a short film that had been recorded throughout the program.

It was in Edmonton that the four young people were invited to travel to Rome for the forum SA国际影视传媒� but it was just five days away.

She admits she was SA国际影视传媒渧ery scaredSA国际影视传媒� to leave her children, but after some consideration, was SA国际影视传媒渧ery pleased to agree.SA国际影视传媒� Her three compatriots did too, and while some within her group needed to scramble to get passports on short notice, they were all on a plane to Italy on Oct. 15.

The Tuktoyaktuk travellers struggled with some initial culture shock, Noksana said, particularly when faced with the eight hour time difference between their home community and Rome, but before long they were feasting on pasta and pizza with SA国际影视传媒渘o regrets,SA国际影视传媒� she added with a laugh.

They also took in some of the citySA国际影视传媒檚 world famous attractions, and got particularly well acquainted with the Colosseum.

SA国际影视传媒淓very morning we would scooter from the hotel to the forum,SA国际影视传媒� Noksana said. SA国际影视传媒淲e picked a route where weSA国际影视传媒檇 go by the Colosseum every morning. WeSA国际影视传媒檇 start off in the dark and by the time we got to the forum the sun was rising. It was a very beautiful experience.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒楽hared goalSA国际影视传媒�

The forum was, of course, the primary reason for their trip. It ran from Oct. 16-20, and provided a space for dialogue between Food and Agricultural Organization members, UN agencies, universities, research centres, and Indigenous youth from seven regions.

One of the primary topics of discourse was the future of Indigenous peoplesSA国际影视传媒� food and knowledge systems in the face of climate change and other issues.

SA国际影视传媒淚ndigenous people all have a shared goal, which is to protect our land and animals,SA国际影视传媒� Noksana said. SA国际影视传媒淲e all collaborated on issues we face in our everyday lives that are greatly affecting our traditional cultural ways.

SA国际影视传媒淚t has greatly sparked inspiration for us to continue to protect our land and animals for the years to come.SA国际影视传媒�

The group arrived back in Tuktoyaktuk on Oct. 23 SA国际影视传媒� two days after they left Italy, thanks to some inclement weather in the North. On Nov. 2, once theySA国际影视传媒檇 recovered from their jet lag, they met with local students to speak about the trip.

They also discussed the importance of the traditional beluga harvest, material that Noksana said will be SA国际影视传媒減art of the curriculum nowSA国际影视传媒� at local schools.

SA国际影视传媒淚 just want to teach the youth that thereSA国际影视传媒檚 so much more out there in the world,SA国际影视传媒� said Noksana. SA国际影视传媒淎nd I hope that the youth in our community really take what theySA国际影视传媒檙e gonna learn in the next semester or through the school with the beluga harvesting and carry on with our traditions. I would hate to see it die. That was the main goal of running the beluga harvesting program for the future leaders, making sure that our younger generation have the opportunity to get their hands in there and learn and continue our traditions.SA国际影视传媒�