Two South Slave students chosen to represent the NWT in Ottawa

Shae McMahon and Rochelle Smith to attend Young Citizens forum in November

FORT SMITH & HAY RIVER, NT – In November, Grade 10 student Shae McMahon of Paul W. Kaeser High School and Grade 7 student Rochelle Smith of Princess Alexandra School will be travelling to Ottawa, ON to represent the Northwest Territories at the 3rd annual Young Citizens program and Youth Forum.

The Young Citizens program is a complementary component to the NWT Territorial Heritage Fair Showcase, which both McMahon and Smith placed in in Yellowknife this past spring. They were asked to create short videos on their topic, similar to a short documentary. The videos were uploaded online to garner votes, which made up part of their score; while a panel of judges reviewed and made the final decision in selecting two students from each province and territory to win a trip to Ottawa.

In Ottawa, these students will tour our nation’s capital, visiting places such as Parliament, Rideau Hall, the War Museum and the Museum of Canadian History. They will also be treated to a VIP History Makers dinner, try out some of the best places to eat in the city, and have time to visit Byward Market and purchase souvenirs.

McMahon’s project, “Raised in the Hood?” explored the history of the amauti, a valuable cultural item used by the Inuit.

Meanwhile, Smith’s "The Fight to Become a Person" investigated the Famous Five women, who fought for women's rights in the early 1900's. At that time, she says, "Women were not treated equally to men at all. Stealing a cow could get a man 14 years in jail, but abducting a girl would only get 5 years in jail."