There's small and then there's Deline.
Smack in the middle of the Northwest Territories, the community of 650 people sits tucked within the treeline 100 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle. For 17 years it's been Todd Ellton's home.
"It is the birth place of hockey," the teenager said proudly.
Chad Washie's town Bechoko holds more than double Ellton's village's population, the 15-year-old boasted. With a population of 1,950 residents it's the largest Tlicho First Nation community in Canada. Washie can speak a bit of his native tongue.
There's no word for "sorry," he said with a cheeky smile.
This summer the boys are visiting Squamish as a part of the Northern Youth Abroad program. The not-for-profit organization enables Nunavut and Northwest Territories youth aged 15 to 22 to acquire professional skills and training in southern Canada and abroad.
While in the "big city" they're staying with Squamish resident Ken Perry and his son Justin. It's an interesting experience, Ken said. Although from the same country, the cultures under one roof are very different.
"There's a difference in customs," he said.
Last summer, Ken hosted two boys from Nunavut. At Christmas they wrote to his family, inviting them to come visit. It's an offer Ken said he plans to take up next summer.
The whole experience has shed new light on Squamish, Justin said.
"Squamish might seem like a small town, but I guess it's how you compare it," he said.
Northern Youth Abroad helps orient youth from small communities to larger communities without overwhelming them by placing them in major cities, Ken told The Chief. During the participants' stay, the youth are given assignments. They include activities such as blogging their experiences and meeting with local politicians.
Right now, Washie is focused on undertaking new adventures. This week, for the first time in his life he ate at a Wendy's.
"It's not as good as the pictures," he said.
