Air Inuvialuit: Proud, Familiar Staff at Canadian North

There may be only about 6,000 Inuvialuit, but collectively under the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, they own a whole airline with Canadian North. We know its routes well by now, but not everyone gets a behind-the-scenes look at some of the staff. We spoke to some of our Inuvialuit family and friends working for Canadian North about their job, career path, and any advice they may have for young aviation enthusiasts.

Most of these interviews took place in late 2018. Since then, Canadian North and First Air, previously a company run by Makivik Corporation in Nunavik, have merged into one unified company. But under whichever name or colours, these are some proud, experienced Inuvialuit who have found a great career path, and they serve as an example of the heights you can reach with a little efort.

KAMÉ ANN ST-CYR

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

My name is Kamé Ann St-Cyr and I have been a flight attendant with Canadian North since July 2013.

I was born in Yellowknife and adopted in infancy to parents who were both teachers at the time. They knew they would adopt children, as it was their dream to have a large family.

My journey began with my father, who is French Canadian and grew up in Saskatchewan, and my mother, who was half-Polish and half-Slovenian and was born in Quebec. They loved adventure, which is what took them to numerous communities, including northern Quebec, before settling in Yellowknife.

I was the first child to my parents. They then had my sister Renée, who is in the aviation industry as well, my brother Donald, who was also adopted and is Inuvialuit from Inuvik, and finally my baby brother Michaël. One of my father’s favourite lines when explaining the diversity of his family is, “I have two homemade and two God-given!” He adds, “They are all God-given and all homemade.”

We grew up speaking both English and French. We moved to southern Saskatchewan after my mother passed away in 1985. It was the first time for many in these communities to see Inuit children. I consider myself very blessed. Although from time to time rude comments were noted, the deep roots of acceptance, tolerance and continued love throughout my childhood sustained me. We got called a bunch of names, but my father always taught us to treat others like we wanted to be treated. We are a very close family. My parents always let us know that if we ever wanted to meet our biological family, they would be there for us.

We moved to Edmonton in 1997 when my father got a job with the government. I always had a love for flying and knew at one point I would be part of the industry. My sister has worked for First Air since 1998. But I put my dream of flying on hold to help take care of my grandmother. She sufered from dementia, and in order to better help take care of her, I decided to return to school to acquire my healthcare aid diploma.

After her passing, there was a hiring freeze with the Health Services in Alberta. I was lucky I had previous education in theatre production, which allowed me to generate income in the meantime. I was browsing online for employment and an ad was posted seeking Aboriginal candidates with Canadian North, so I applied. Here we are six years later and I’m loving every minute of being a flight attendant at Canadian North.

The most important part of being a flight attendant is to ensure the safety of all our guests. Comfort and inflight service are big parts of my daily responsibilities. There are days that are more challenging than others, and I just have to go with the flow and accept whatever comes my way. But when you love what you do and you have a passion for your job, coming to work becomes efortless. My job also allows me to travel back and forth to Yellowknife and all over the North.

Being able to work and represent the Inuit and being a role model for the younger generation brings me so much pride. My biological family is from Taloyoak, Nunavut, and being able to see my uncle James Eetooklook and my entire extended family on a regular basis brings me so much joy and has allowed my heart to become whole.

My advice to any young Inuk thinking about pursuing a career in the field of aviation is to ensure you have your Grade 12 diploma, do some research on the airlines you might want to work for, look at flight routes, scheduling, pay and other aspects of the job. Anyone just starting has to remember they are at the bottom of the list and this sometimes means working holidays and sitting on-call. If these are not issues and flying is where you want to be, then I encourage anyone and everyone to apply.

My favourite quote is, “It’s not enough to just be; you have to want to be something.”

Have a dream and find a passion.

ASHLEY LENNIE

PAYROLL ANALYST

I’m Inuvialuit, from Inuvik. I’m a Lennie. There are a lot of us.

My father has been a political figurehead with the Inuvialuit for years. Watching him and the influence he bestowed on us with his eforts gaged me to want to do that as well, but more so academically than politically. I’m fine with doing it in the background and don’t need my name on everything. Working for the Inuvialuit is something I take pride in.

I’ve worked for Canadian North since 2014 in payroll and benefits, and now I’m merging into payroll analyst, because I’m also doing payroll for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and Aklak Air.

I spent 12 years with the Government of the Northwest Territories before this. I went to Canadian North because one of my goals was always to work for the Inuvialuit and contribute to an establishment my people created. It’s been great so far. They’re very supportive and have funded me working towards achieving my payroll compliance associate’s degree.

Payroll is fun because it’s never the same. I go to Edmonton once or twice a month to help close of month-end. I also maintain their benefits. There is a range of challenges, so I’m never bored. Everybody has to get paid, but not everyone is always happy with their pay, so that’s where people like myself and my coworkers come in to ensure everything is copacetic.

With any kind of career focus, there’s always a balance you have to find between your personal life, your work, and your academics. The biggest challenge I’ve had was balancing those three and staying sane. I set my academic standards very high and was used to getting high grades throughout school. In postsecondary, I failed a class, and that was a huge blow to my ego. My father gave me a piece of advice: failing is not failure – quitting is failure. I bucked up and said screw it, I’ll do it again. I passed and haven’t stopped since.

If I could turn back time and redo everything, I would have pursued my education at a younger age, before starting my career. My advice in retrospect is to stay focused. If you want it bad enough, you’re going to get it, whether it be now or later.

Don’t be afraid to speak your mind, because shyness gets you nowhere. After growing up in Aklavik and Inuvik, I ventured out and didn’t let those little obstacles set limits for me. If you can break that, you’re going to be great.

LINDSEY PAYNE

HUB OPERATIONS

I was born in Tuktoyaktuk, which is where my mom’s side of the family is from. My brother and I were raised in Calgary.

After completing a travel and tourism course I moved up north and worked in a few different hotels in Yellowknife. Canadian North hired me when I was 24 where I worked as a customer service/operations agent for seven years and then transferred to Edmonton where I worked in cargo then hub operations.

As soon as we get the numbers from cargo and the passenger count, we have to quickly plan the flights so the ramp agents can start loading the plane. Things can always go wrong, so you have to be fast at problem solving, but everyone who works in our ofce is very good at working together and fixing things quickly.

Canadian North is our lifeline. I have a lot of family and friends in the North. They’re always travelling back and forth between Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik, Yellowknife and Edmonton. The benefits we get as employees help a lot too. I can help family save money on flights, and I take a lot of pride in the fact we’re owned by the Inuvialuit.

I have had to deal with some personal issues that came up over the years, but Canadian North stood behind me the whole time and let me take time of to deal with them. They’ve been really supportive, and I’ve had amazing managers. They give you access to the tools that you need to get through it and keep moving forward.

For anyone looking to get into this career, I would definitely say go for it. It gives you the opportunity to travel. It’s so worth it. I’ve had so much fun being around the people in this company. It’s a big family where everybody knows everybody. And it’s so worth the benefits.

GERI-LYN GUTHRIE

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

It is funny how something so simple can be so nostalgic. Every time I put on my uniform for work, the pride I feel wearing a freshly-pressed dress shirt and pants reminds me of my days as an air cadet some 30 years ago. Who knew I’d end up with a career in aviation?

I have been a part of the Canadian North family since December 2013. Although I was laid off for two-and-a-half years when the oil market crashed, I kept my hopes high to be called back to work as a flight attendant. During my layoff, I applied for and got interviews with a couple of other airlines, but when I was asked if I would move to another city for work, I always ended up saying no. I wanted to stay with Canadian North, not only to be based out of Edmonton but because I love working for a company that puts the North first.

When an opportunity opened up to work at the Edmonton airport as a customer service agent, I took the job, happy to be staying with the company. I worked at the check-in counter for a year, which was a great experience. I didn’t realize all that it took to get a plane of the ground, let alone on time! Eventually, I got the call to come back to work as a flight attendant based out of Calgary. Despite not being in my home city, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to fly again and soon started my retraining. I commuted to Calgary for nine long months, most of it over the cold winter. I honestly didn’t want to be based in another city with another airline, but this callback meant staying with the family atmosphere at Canadian North, so of I went.

Canadian North flies to many diferent North American destinations, mostly for charter flights, but my favourite routes are the ones to Canada’s Far North. Whether it be Inuvik, Cambridge Bay, Pond Inlet or Iqaluit, there’s bound to be family on board. On the Western Arctic flights, elder passengers will really be watching me throughout the flight. Then they’ll touch my arm as I walk by and ask, “Who’s your mom?” When I tell them, “Ruby,” they respond with, “Ahh, you’re Ruby’s daughter!” A lot of Cambridge Bay passengers know my daduk, Buster Kailek, a reindeer herder from back in the day. No matter the flight, there are bound to be smiling faces from family and friends on board, and it always feels like home.

To become a part of this family, you need to work hard with dedication and commitment. Aviation requires consistency and meticulous preparations from all of the flight crew. As a flight attendant, it was six weeks of classroom work, Monday to Friday. Quite often, classmates would get together in the evenings and on weekends to study and go through drills – my favourite part of training! Always practising and going over regulations to make sure we are prepared for any situation. The work can be tough and even stressful at times, but seeing happy passengers, travelling to the most remote parts of Canada and connecting communities is where my heart truly lies. I love my career and look forward to seeing you in the skies!

DAWN MACFARLANE

FIRST OFFICER

My name is Dawn Macfarlane. My maiden name is Hansen and my family is from Inuvik and originally Aklavik. I currently reside outside of Victoria on Vancouver Island. My father is a pilot as well, so growing up we moved around a lot between the Northwest Territories, Alberta and Ontario, and for all my high school years I lived in Australia. A big aspect of life for aviation families is you can see the world if you want to!

After finishing my degree at the University of Calgary and my flight training process, I worked for Kenn Borek Air and was able to rotate out of Inuvik and fly for Aklak Air. I flew all over the North and went to the Maldives for a season too. I was given the amazing opportunity to fly for Canadian North early in my career and came here in 2008.

I am a First Officer on the B737-200 and -300 series aircraft. It is my responsibility as a member of the flight crew to be fully trained and qualified to operate the aircraft safely in all flight conditions. This includes all normal and abnormal situations. When we arrive for a day of flying, we check the weather, look at the serviceability of the aircraft, brief the crew, visually check the aircraft and all its systems and check to see that all the navigational aids en route are available for navigation from departure airport to destination.

It’s a multifaceted job that requires not only good piloting skills, but good communication, decisive skills, weather, and aircraft knowledge to ensure your day-to-day flying is done safely. Every six months we go into a simulator to ensure that if anything does go wrong with the systems of the aircraft or we encounter any difficult situations that can happen in the air, we are fully trained and capable to deal with those situations. Canadian North, as an airline, is unique in many ways. We get to fly the 737 onto gravel and ice strips, and as a charter airline, we can go to some very different destinations all over Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. As a pilot, one day you could be in Cambridge Bay at -30C, the next in Miami at +30C! The polar bear is all over the place! It keeps it fun, challenging, and interesting.

It’s not easy to define what is hard about being a pilot – I think it’s easier to say that there are challenging aspects to the job. Weather conditions, especially in the North, can change very rapidly and unexpectedly, which creates bigger challenges for arrival and departure procedures. We are well-trained and have very clear guidelines as far as runway length and conditions, so it is never ‘unknown’ whether a landing or departure can be executed safely, but it is a continual decision-making process what the best course of action is. I think the easiest part of the job is looking out the window, seeing the amazing lands and waters we have in Canada. It’s truly the best office view.

The wonderful part about being a pilot is you take all your training, studying, experience and knowledge with you every time you fly, and when you reach your final destination of the day, and have done so safely and efciently, your job is done successfully. There is a sense of accomplishment every day you go to work.

There is a huge sense of pride that I work for Canadian North. It’s truly paramount. I was able to sit next to and fly with my father, who was one of the first Aboriginal jet pilots in Canada. It truly was an honour. Whenever I see a family member or friend from back home onboard, I am always proud to continue my dad’s profession, and I hope in turn, they are proud of me for that. And if I can inspire any young Inuvialuit to follow their dreams, then even more the better.

Now is a great time to start in aviation. The airline business in Canada is growing and there is immense opportunity to advance quickly in your career. If I had any advice, I would say that flying is a career as well as a way of life – it will take you all over the world if you want it to. Being a pilot takes you places, in the most literal sense, so your lifestyle is a part of what you do. That being said, it can take you away from home, or keep you there if you want it to. I always try to remind kids that if you have to go away from your home community for education, whether it be university, college or training, always remember it’s not leaving. If you are homesick, just know it is temporary, because you will gain that education and take it back home, and not only better yourself, but your community as well. The education process is temporary; what you bring to your community is forever. Home will always be there. One of the most amazing moments of my life was taking off out of Inuvik for the first time in my professional career. I left years before and came back with a degree, and this extraordinary ability to fly an airplane! There was an immense sense of not only self-worth but a sense of place, home, and family as well.

If you are interested in becoming a pilot, it’s a unique profession as you can choose who you want to be within the industry – you could strive to fly the biggest airplane in the most exotic location, or the smallest in the most remote of places. You could aim to fly in your community, or as I do, take your family to and from the south. It is up to you. And I am always happy to help and chat with anyone who has any questions about becoming a pilot.

ASHLEY ARCHIE

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

I’m from Tuktoyaktuk but have lived in Calgary since I was five years old. I regularly visit family and friends back in Tuk, Aklavik and Inuvik.

After high school, I graduated from a two-year travel and tourism program at SAIT Polytechnic. During the first year of that program, I did a summer internship with Canadian North as a charter specialist. I have since progressed my way through the company and am currently a Calgary-based flight attendant.

The majority of my flights are to the oil sands in Alberta. Some of my responsibilities are participating in a briefing before each flight with crew members, conducting safety checks of equipment on the aircraft and providing customer service onboard to the passengers.

Expecting the unexpected is the hardest part about being a flight attendant. Anything can happen, such as IROPs (irregular operations), weather delays (especially where we fly in the North) and mechanical issues. All of these things are completely out of our hands. Being a mom of two little boys, it’s challenging to juggle both work life and mom life.

The easiest part is definitely handling our type of passengers, who are already familiar with the fly-in, fly-out program for the oil sands. The majority of them have been flying with us for years and they are all so kind, friendly and just make our job so easy.

Myself being Inuvialuit, I take pride in working for this company, because I still make frequent visits to the North. I visit my nan in Aklavik two or three times a year and I love bringing my children. It keeps us in touch with culture and traditional values, and it reminds us of the importance of family. The airline I work for brings me to see my family, which I find so precious.

Aviation is always growing. If you want to see more places in the world and experience travel, definitely pursue a career in aviation. The benefits are well worth it!

SHANNON POSHTAR

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

I started at Canadian North when I was 19 as a customer service agent in 2002. In 2003, I went to operations and then was invited into the inflight department in 2004, which is where I’ve been to the present day.

I’m the daughter of Lucy Poshtar, maiden name Chicksi, and Richard Poshtar and based in Calgary. I’m lucky to work with this company and be part of this airline. The benefits allow my mother to visit family in Inuvik, and they allow me to take a vacation anywhere I like.

The hardest part of the job would be the diferent climates. It could be 40C in Ottawa, and then you fly to Iqaluit that afternoon at -10C. One extreme to the other!

I really enjoy being a flight attendant and working for a Northern-based airline. The easiest thing about my job is the hours. I wake up at 3 a.m. most days for check-in at 4:45 a.m., but then I’m done work by 9 a.m. or noon! I get to be home every evening with my family, which not many flight attendants can say.

RUBY OKHEENA

FLIGHT ATTENDANT

My favourite childhood memories are those of living at our outpost camp, Halahekvik. My late father, George Okheena, was a fox trapper, and thinking about living that lifestyle is wonderful. I loved going out to check the traps with my dad. I especially loved when he would walk with me to check the traps that were close by the cabin.

I presently live in the city of Edmonton. I walk on concrete, far away from the land that holds my family’s footprints. I know that home is always there, waiting for me when I need to reconnect with home, family and the land.

I am now seeing the world from 33,000 feet in the air and I have been for the past 16 years. My life is one where I am packing, unpacking and packing yet again. Some may feel a sense of tiredness just reading that last sentence but I thrive on it. I feel fortunate not to be encased in four walls. My choice to leave my home of Uluhaktok all those many years ago was the best decision that I could have made. Leaving the comfort and stability of home forced me to make hard choices. Being a young Inuk girl leaving a small, isolated Arctic community was a daunting thing to do. Thankfully I stuck with my choices and I didn’t give into fear or homesickness. Those first hard decisions have given me the foundation to live the life I have today.

Through my job as a flight attendant for Canadian North I have had the opportunity to experience all that Canada has to ofer. I have been to all the corners of our beautiful and vast country. I’ve flown from Alert, Nunavut, to the west coast, where I have watched orcas swimming in the Pacific Ocean. I’ve seen humpback whales and pufns – I fell in love with them – in Witless Bay, Newfoundland. I’ve seen the Niagara Falls, landed on an ice strip, flown above icebergs around Bafn Island. I’ve eaten smoked meat sandwiches and fresh bagels in Montreal. I have been fortunate enough to have done charters to Greenland, Alaska, Yukon, South Carolina, Oregon, Nevada, Florida and Mexico. I’ve served pink champagne and caviar. There are so many great memories.

Life as a flight attendant is one where you get to play tourist in whatever city or town you may be but it’s also hard work. The majority of the time you have very early mornings. People have connecting flights so your headstart flights (first flight of the day) begin very early. As an airline, we must get people from Point A to Point B with their safety as our first priority.

As aircrew, we must thoroughly understand our responsibilities. The safety of the passengers is first and foremost; therefore, we must take our training very seriously. This means that we are present for our training. The types of training we must do are recurrent annual training, first aid, crew resource management and line checks. If anything is unclear in our training it’s very important to seek clarification. Like in any situation, especially in relation to flying passengers, assumptions should never be made. Ask questions to ensure everyone is on the same page. I am very proud of the pilots and flight attendants at Canadian North, as we work as one crew to ensure passenger safety.

As with following daily operating procedures to make certain that we deliver the best service we can, I feel that personal health is very important. You must take responsibility for your well-being. This means getting adequate sleep. This can be difcult at times as every hotel is diferent, some more comfortable than others. Sometimes you don’t want to say goodbye to friends

and family but getting rest is the wise choice. So it’s easy to understand that exercise, diet and self-care are big priorities. As a flight attendant, I need to instil confidence in the passengers that I am able to ensure that they fly in the safest manner possible, so I need to be as healthy as I possibly can. I get my motivation from my colleagues, and I’m thankful for that.

Working for an Inuvialuit-owned company is a great source of pride. I recognize the hard work the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation does to ensure ownership. It gives one a sense of independence. Having cultural identity, a firm sense of where you come from, pride in yourself – these are the building blocks for your self-determination. It’s very important to remember the sacrifices and especially the teachings of our elders, some who have passed on. They worked hard to keep our traditions alive. We are here because they never gave up. I hope we all do our part to carry forth their determination, their goodwill, the love of the land and family and the humility that is so much a part of life in Arctic Canada. My advice to anyone who is in high school or who is thinking of a career in aviation or any other field, is go to school. Go to school every day and do your homework. Ask for help when you need it. Your teachers are there to teach you, to help you understand how things work. It’s very important to know that your education doesn’t end with your high school diploma. If you want a job in healthcare, trades or business, you will need to further your education. Education will open doors for you.

Further advice is to meet people, talk to people and remember their names. Watch people, be open-minded and ask questions. See what worked for them, and maybe it will work for you. Seek out mentors and people you respect. Most importantly is to surround yourself with supportive friends. People who doubt your ability, who tell you that you can’t do it, do not belong in your life. Never accept judgment or negativity. These things get in the way of what is possible, good things. Believe in yourself and your abilities and pursue what it is that you want.

KRISTY ANDERSON

CUSTOMER SERVICE

I am from Tuktoyaktuk but currently live in Beaumont, Alberta. I started working as a flight attendant for Canadian North in Edmonton seven years ago. I had the opportunity to fly all over the North and south and enjoyed attending to everyone on the many flights. However, when I met the love of my life and we decided to have children, I decided to switch into a customer service position so that I could be home each night with my family. I have three beautiful children now, Jayton, Kobe, and Mila. I was always interested in working in the aviation industry and becoming a flight attendant. We started off with a six-week training program for flight attending. It was challenging but I was determined to complete the training and work in my desired job. This was my first professional job after I graduated from high school. One day, when my children are older, I may go back to being a flight attendant but I also love what I am doing now. I still get the chance to see and meet many friendly people flying on Canadian North flights and assist them to check-in and board the planes. Flying can be stressful for some and it’s important to make sure that you provide them with great customer service and reassure them that everything will be okay. I love working at Canadian North and can see myself advancing into the administration department one day. I have wonderful co-workers and I like the flexible hours too. As an Inuvialuit, I’m proud to work for an Inuvialuit-owned company. Living in the south is hard sometimes and I get homesick, but Canadian North keeps me connected to family and friends. My advice to youth is to stay in school and get a solid education. It will help you reach your goals. If you have a desire to have a career in a particular area, reach out for it and never give up on your dreams. Anything is possible as long as you try your best. It is also important to balance work and life. Family is important, too, and you can be successful with both a family and a career.