Over the past two years, Canadian Geographic has been running “Passing the Mic,” a podcast training program in remote Nunavut communities. This week, we are pleased to showcase the third episode of this year’s series, which features stories produced by the students at the Netsilik School in Taloyoak, Nunavut. 

The aim of this program is to give Inuit youth the tools to share their stories with the world in their own voices, using their words. I think you’ll agree that these stories provide a wonderful window into a unique and welcoming Inuit community. 

Taloqroq is mainland Canada's most northerly community, sitting on the shores of the Arctic Ocean and the Northwest Passage. My Canadian Geographic colleague Tom Lundy and I spent a week in late October working with the students at Netsilik School, teaching podcasting. The students' ages ranged from 13 to 18, and we couldn’t have asked for a more enthusiastic group. 

Today, we will hear from Nellie and Tyra, Faith Pauloosie and Leah Aklah, Leo Lyall and Steve Alookee, Alexis Ruben and Alayna Aklah and Shayna Nanook and Amaiyah Totalik. 

Thanks to all of them for the amazing work they put in. Enjoy! 

Also, these kinds of stories are exactly why we do the #RCGSPolarPlunge fundraiser every year. On March 4th, your donations will compel a lot of otherwise sensible people to plunge into the freezing lakes, rivers and oceans across Canada, including in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, in support of Canadian Geographic and this podcast. 

So, to keep this kind of unique, balanced, thoughtful, independent storytelling coming, please go to RCGS.org/polarplunge

Thank You. 

And thanks to Netsilik students Joyce Ashevak and Martha Neeveacheak for providing the beautiful throat singing used in this episode. You can hear their story in the previous episode.

And if you're community or school in Nunavut that would like to take part in the "Passing the Mic" podcast training program, drop us an email at [email protected]