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14 Tuesday July 28 2015 6.8103 in x 6.3125 in By DALI CARMICHAEL One Fort Smith high schooler will be trad- ing part of his sunny summer in the South Slave for a two-week expedition in the High Arctic this week. Shawn Tourangeau 17 was selected as one of 111 students from 18 countries to participate in this summers Students on Ice expedition an educational nautical journey through the Canadian North and Greenland. I always wanted to go to different places and experience different parts of the world Tourangeausaid.Ialwayswantedtogohigher up North and see what its like up there and just learn about the environment and the ecosystems and everything thats going on with the Arctic and climate change. I like to know whats going on in the world. Recent high school graduate Goliah Mak- letzoff Cazon of Yellowknife was also selected to attend this summers adventure. Growing up in the NWT and the Yukon my parents granted me every opportunity to be on the land learning new things. The wilderness was where I thrived and I have become an outdoor enthusiast reads a state- ment from Cazon. My goal is to pursue a career in outdoor guiding to be able to pro- vide other people similar opportunities and experiences on the land. Im excited to learn more about the Arctic and meet new people to share this experience with. The duo started started their journey on July 26 leaving home to y to Ottawa to meet and train with their fellow explorers before going all-aboard the ship. Over the next two weeks the group will check out the communities coasts and fjords of western Greenland before crossing the Davis Strait to Canadas High Arctic. From there they will explore the eastern entrance of the Northwest Passage taking time to visit Pond Inlet Sirmilik National Park and Beechey Island. I think thats really exciting Tourangeau said. You hear about all these explorers who have tried to go through there and its like I might be going through some of that In addition to the multicultural group of students - 30 per cent of whom identify as indigenous - Tourangeau will get the chance to work with a group of 80 educators scien- tists artists Inuit leaders and polar explor- ers. The list includes Dr. Fred Roots sci- entists Paul Sokoloff and Kieran Shepherd of the Canadian Museum of Nature Inuit leader Mary Simon polar adventurers Eric and Sarah McNair-Landry singersongwriter Sarah Harmer Inuk artist Jolly Atagooyuk author James Raffan and polar experts Dr. Bianca Perren and Dr. Don Walsh. In between workshops and discussions on Arctic history climate change policy and governance the group expects to experience encounters with wildlife while taking cruises on Zodiac crafts among icebergs and oes. They will have the opportunity to explore the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heri- tage site otherwise known as the iceberg factory and will build their own traditional Inuit qajaqs kayaks which they will get to test out in the Northwest Passage. It costs a pretty penny to partake in the journey but luckily for Tourangeau Parks Canada - a partner of Students on Ice and his current employer - supplied him with a full scholarship. Over the past 15 years Students on Ice has taken more than 2500 students to the polar regions of the world. The organizations goal is to foster a greater understanding and re- spect for the history culture ecological di- versity and changes facing these regions creating an army of youth ambassadors to share the stories of the Arctic and Antarctic environments. I dont think there are a lot of things that are known about higher up North Tourangeau said. I want to go up there ex- perience it for myself and see whats actually going on come back and share my experi- ences with people. NWT youth cruise the far North with Students on Ice PhotoDaliCarmichael EDUCATION TRAVEL Fort Smith youth Shawn Tourangeau 17 is one of two NWT students exploring the Arctic with the Students on Ice program.