Residents in and around Inuvik can soon train close to home to be addictions workers — something aboriginal groups say could be a big benefit should construction begin on the proposed Mackenzie Valley Pipeline.

In September, Aurora College's Inuvik campus will begin offering a two-year training course in addictions counselling. College director Miki O'Kane said Wednesday that graduates of the program will be able to work one-on-one with people dealing with addictions.

"We're hoping that there'll be additional positions created at the community level, and so these people would be prepared to take those positions, as well," she said.

Graduates of the Aurora course can also choose to pursue a university education toward a degree in social work, O'Kane said.

Aboriginal organizations such as the Gwich'in Tribal Council say the course's arrival is good timing, as they expect more social problems to arise as the proposed pipeline is being built, especially for workers in the area.

"We know that our Health Department is stressed by all of these issues," council wellness manager Denise Kurzurski said. "We need to find a way to … work at prevention, and promotion of healthy lifestyles."

Kurzurski said the Gwich'in have tentative plans to start a treatment centre south of Inuvik, and they hope they can find money to hire graduates of the Aurora program.

"It has the potential of becoming a treatment centre. Now, if we design a unique program and have our own people working in there, it will be all that more beneficial to the people of this region," she said.

The N.W.T. Department of Health and Social Services currently has wellness workers in most communities, but they receive on-the-job training.