This is the second in a series of stories looking at Pangnirtung Fisheries and how it's helping the community by providing jobs and developing the economy.
Jackie Maniapik oversees the youth employment program at Pangnirtung Fisheries in his role as production manager.
He said the goal is to start new employees young and eventually move them into a full-time role.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been receiving more applicants - the parents have been calling to see if their children can apply for a job here," said Maniapik. "At the moment, we have approximately eight, but we want to double or triple that by the end of the season.SA国际影视传媒�
He was encouraged by the management to apply for his position in the past year.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think weSA国际影视传媒檝e been a pretty good team,SA国际影视传媒� he says of his working and management style in the plant. SA国际影视传媒淸General manager Jon Johannsson] showed me that there will be work and more improvement in the long run, so ISA国际影视传媒檓 looking more at the long-term results. It helped me realize that I can be here and try and make a difference in the community.
Since Maniapik started, he said there's been some improvement among staff morale and that's something he's trying to show by example.
"I try and treat everyone equally, the fishermen and the staff," he said. "ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 my main goal - I want to treat them the way I want to be treated.SA国际影视传媒�
Johannsson said the reason he chose Maniapik for the role came down to his leadership qualities.
SA国际影视传媒淗e thinks about others before himself (and) heSA国际影视传媒檚 community driven," he said.
Johannsson and executive manager Brittany MacLellan both said their long-term goals for plant management includes working themselves out of a job one day.
SA国际影视传媒淭rying to train up locals in management so they have exposure to more of the corporate side of things," said MacLellan. "The goal is to have everything be hand[ed] off to be managed locally. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 individuals that are more than capable of doing it. They just need some guidance that they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 necessarily have in the past. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think theySA国际影视传媒檝e had the opportunity before, for people to give them the trust, and the ability to dive in and do it.
MacLellan also said she's hoping to turn the operation in Pangnirtung into a pilot project for other communities.
"To come into Pangnirtung and learn from the fishers, learn from the processing staff, and learn from the management," she said. "TheySA国际影视传媒檒l establish commercial fishing in other communities so you can have jobs, you can have employment and meaningful work."
SA国际影视传媒淭he government has been very helpful to us and there is a lot of money being spent,SA国际影视传媒� added Johannsson. SA国际影视传媒淏ut the impact that they are creating here is so, so great.SA国际影视传媒�
That government support includes help from CanNor, the Northern Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative and the GN, said MacLellan.
Economic Development Minister David Akeeagok said the work being done at the fishery is having an big impact on the community.
SA国际影视传媒淲e need more of this in the territory," he said. "ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 a locally driven industry now. People from Pangnirtung have gone up to Grise Fiord and Pond Inlet, sharing the knowledge of what tools are available to try and catch turbot close to their communities.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think thatSA国际影视传媒檚 one area thatSA国际影视传媒檚 untapped and needs to be tapped," he added. "So we continue to support communities who want to do test fisheries.SA国际影视传媒�
Akeeagok also mentioned the upcoming partnerships with hunters and trappers organizations and fisheries in Greenland.
SA国际影视传媒淚 use Greenland as a model because fisheries are their main economic driver," he said. "And weSA国际影视传媒檙e right next door to each other. From my perspective, if we want to start an industry like fisheries, [Pangnirtung] is doing it on their own and ISA国际影视传媒檓 really, really proud of them.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 want to be the last white man up here,SA国际影视传媒� Johannsson said. SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 my biggest goal - to leave things better than I found them. The fish up here is extremely good fish from the healthy Arctic waters. For us, itSA国际影视传媒檚 extremely important to protect the culture. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 nothing we canSA国际影视传媒檛 do to protect and celebrate Inuit way of living down south. We could learn a lot from here.
