Ulukhaktok/Holman - Kyran Alikamik knows first-hand the barriers of travelling in the North. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 why the Grade 9 student from Helen Kalvak School in Ulukhaktok highlighted the issue during the Youth Parliament program in Yellowknife earlier this month.

SA国际影视传媒淚t affects constituents here very greatly,SA国际影视传媒� Alikamik said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 just a really big barrier.SA国际影视传媒�

Alikamik was one of 19 Northwest Territories youth who were chosen to participate in this yearSA国际影视传媒檚 Youth Parliament, which began on May 8.

After doing research to compare air fare prices, Alikamik said even he was surprised at what he found.

A return flight from Ulukhaktok to Yellowknife on First Air costs more than $3,700 while an Air Canada return flight from Edmonton, Alta. to Beijing, China can cost less than $1,000.

The high ticket price means people in the NWTSA国际影视传媒檚 northernmost communities are at a significant disadvantage when it comes to travelling, Alikamik said. Families in different communities wanting to visit simply canSA国际影视传媒檛 afford the travel costs.

SA国际影视传媒淭he main thing is visiting family members from other communities, and also travelling to other towns for sports such as basketball,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Alikamik recently faced the problem as a member of the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 basketball team. The team wanted to participate in the The NWT Power Corp Junior Cager basketball tournament in Yellowknife in February.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had a team of seven. I didn't get the actual cost, but I heard it did cost a lot,SA国际影视传媒� Alikamik said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were very lucky to be able to go there. I chose to speak about that because it not only affects me but many other people.SA国际影视传媒�

Nicolas Kopot, teacher and basketball coach, agreed.

SA国际影视传媒淲e had to fundraise

a grotesque amount just to be able to put a small team together to send them to Yellowknife,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Kopot said AlikamikSA国际影视传媒檚 strong sense of justice - as well as his dedication to learning - were just two of the reasons he was chosen to represent the school during the Youth Parliament program.

SA国际影视传媒淗eSA国际影视传媒檚 extremely well spoken, heSA国际影视传媒檚 articulate and well-read,SA国际影视传媒� Kopot said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 amazing to see this kind of maturity and wisdom in a young man.SA国际影视传媒�

As Youth Parliament members, each student acted as a representative for their constituency. In AlikamikSA国际影视传媒檚 case, he represented Nunakput, the constituency of MLA Herb Nakimayak.

They each spent three days preparing for the Youth Parliament Model Session, which took place on May 11.

Alikamik said he learned a lot about how the legislative assembly works, as well as how to create an effective argument.

SA国际影视传媒淭his experience was very fun and debating is also quite fun,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 very important.SA国际影视传媒�

One of the most demanding aspects of debating is being able to respond without necessarily having the information readily available, Alikamik added.

SA国际影视传媒淪peaking off your tongue instead of something being written is also difficult,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Now that heSA国际影视传媒檚 returned to Ulukhaktok, Alikamik said his advice for other students looking to participate in the Youth Parliament program is to do research on topics affecting their constituency well beforehand.

SA国际影视传媒淚f they were selected, I would advise them to be extra prepared and make sure you refine what you write all the time, if you don't do that you'll run into a lot of trouble,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou barely have time to refine your work. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 the main thing ISA国际影视传媒檇 tell them.SA国际影视传媒�