A CSI-style forensic investigation and the opportunity to learn from CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 first Inuk heart surgeon Donna May Kimmaliardjuk are just two of the highlights on offer for a group of students from across the territory at a health career camp this week.

The camp, which is taking place at Nunavut Arctic CollegeSA国际影视传媒檚 new campus building in the capital May 6 to 10, is bringing together 20 students from Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Gjoa Haven, Kugaaruk, Baker Lake, Naujaat, Clyde River and Iqaluit.

SA国际影视传媒淭he intention of this is to focus on health careers so they can understand, SA国际影视传媒榃hat are the options out there for me?SA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒榃hen I get back to my community, how can I plan my courses? How do I do course selection?'SA国际影视传媒� explained Michelle Turpin, the consultant with NVision Insight Group handling the logistics.

Turpin, previously a long-time Nunavut teacher, says all Nunavut schools, teachers and community health representatives were invited to apply for the camp. Mentors who applied had to explain why they wanted to participate and how they would support students.

While 24 students applied SA国际影视传媒� with a personal essay on why they wanted to attend the camp, including an example of how theySA国际影视传媒檇 helped someone in their community SA国际影视传媒� available federal funding only allowed for 20.

Among them is Shakira Kuodluak, a Grade 10 student at Kugluktuk High School.

SA国际影视传媒淚 want to be a nurse, public health nursing,SA国际影视传媒� Kuodluak said. SA国际影视传媒淏ack home in health class, I was looking into being a nurse, then I got excited about this Nunavut Health Career Camp. I got here and there was a lot more options.SA国际影视传媒�

In fact, she was shocked at all the different nursing options. And, only on her second day of the five-day camp, she says sheSA国际影视传媒檚 learned so much. SheSA国际影视传媒檚 also grateful to everyone who made it happen.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a really fun camp. All of us get along, the students. We help each other out,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

One activity that left an impression on Kuodluak is a CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) role-play, with new clues introduced each day at the site of a carving theft.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was scared at first. I thought it was real. Then I found out we were just playing a game, and I found it really exciting when we were doing the DNA. It was pretty cool,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 forensics, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 actually caution tape. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 a couple of suspects. Yesterday they did fibre analysis, DNA analysis,SA国际影视传媒� explained Turpin.

SA国际影视传媒楤oot camp for nursesSA国际影视传媒�

Gjoa HavenSA国际影视传媒檚 Alaira Sallerina, who is in Grade 11, originally had plans to be a doctor or nurse.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecause where I come from the nurses donSA国际影视传媒檛 really do anything for our community until the last minute or until itSA国际影视传媒檚 too late. When I was young, I wanted to make a change to that. I wanted to help my people,SA国际影视传媒� said Sallerina.

But her introduction to ultrasounds while pregnant has changed her mind. The images intrigue Sallerina.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen I got my ultrasound here (a week ago) to get my appendix out, I was like, SA国际影视传媒楥ool, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 my kidney. Oh, thatSA国际影视传媒檚 my liver,'SA国际影视传媒� she said, adding the camp is like boot camp for nurses.

SA国际影视传媒淲e learn about germs, from the basics, and then we kicked it up yesterday. We got to do sutures. We got to brainstorm about careers, about paths that we could take. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e trying to figure out who stole our carving.SA国际影视传媒�

Sallerina may have to take on-line science courses as Qiqirtaq Ilihakvik doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 have a science teacher.

The youth were also spending a day at the hospital for hands-on activities, such as casting and putting a needle in a vein SA国际影视传媒� for camp purposes, an egg is used instead of an arm. Mental health workers were also presenting.

Kimmaliardjuk, who was scheduled to arrive Thursday, will help students dissect a seal, then use the heart as a teaching tool.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had someone from the Department of Health talking about all the jobs with the department and how the Government of Nunavut supports with different pots of money for scholarships to go to school,SA国际影视传媒� said Turpin.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e just really, really trying to move the needle a little bit on having Inuit choose careers in the health field. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a really super-full week of what we hope are lots of different activities so they can really see themselves in these positions.SA国际影视传媒�

That was the essence of college president Pauloosie SuvegaSA国际影视传媒檚 message to students when he welcomed them on Monday SA国际影视传媒� that he hoped the students would see themselves in health-sector positions.

This is the health career campSA国际影视传媒檚 second year. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine organized the camp last year, while this year the medical school teamed up with Nunavut Arctic College, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Makigiaqta Inuit Training Corporation, and the Government of NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Departments of Education and Health to form a steering committee.

The plan is to repeat the camp.