Students find career options

A group of First Nation high school students learned about future career options at the Aboriginal Workforce Resource conference, held Nov. 9 in Thunder Bay.

“I’m learning how to prepare myself for future careers,” said Shayleen Wilson-King, a Grade 10 student from Gull Bay. “I’m really interested in nursing and helping others. My dad did it, so I’m really inspired by him.”

Wilson-King, who is also considering modelling as a career option, enjoyed the daylong conference at the Victoria Inn.

“It was really fun,” Wilson-King said. “I wish we could do this more often.”

Whitefish Bay’s Talon Bird was also interested in pursuing a career in nursing after attending the conference.

“I like to help people a lot,” said Bird, a Grade 9 student. “This is a nice vital experience. I get to learn a lot of new things and make new friends.”

King is also looking at social work as another career option.

The conference was hosted by the Thunder Bay Urban Aboriginal Strategy (TBUAS) in partnership with the North Superior Workforce Planning Board to provide information on employment, education and training for the urban Aboriginal population in Thunder Bay.

“Registration numbers for this forum are a clear indication that there is a demand for workforce resources for Aboriginal people in the community,” said Sharon Smith-Baxter, employment and training circle chair with TBUAS. “Aboriginal people living in the city currently face many employment challenges such as lack of job search skills, lack of education and not having the appropriate training.”

The conference included a tradeshow and a variety of workshops that focused on skills, how to present ones self to employers, jobs in health, mining and trades, and how to access jobs and apply for entry level positions.

“Many employers are looking for ways to tap into the skills and the underutilized Aboriginal workforce,” Smith-Baxter said. “This conference brings the two together to network, share ideas and possibly even find employees or employers.”

Keynote speaker Brenda Nadjiwan, from Chippewas of Nawash First Nation in southern Ontario, said the conference provided an opportunity for members of the Aboriginal community to connect with the corporate community.

“It allows Aboriginal youth to explore a variety of careers and even create some awareness of what is available out there,” Nadjiwan said. “With a little bit of education and a little bit of training, there is no stopping Aboriginal people.”

Nadjiwan encourages Aboriginal youth to stay in school, stay in math and English, and go to university when they are young.

“Enjoy the experience,” Nadjiwan said. “Get as much experience and diversified experience as you possibly can. Work in the summers, work throughout school when you can, and bring those (experiences) upon graduation to an employer.”

Nadjiwan spoke about Aboriginal participation in the workforce and the contribution Aboriginal people can make towards a positive and more diversified workplace during her presentation.

Dawn Buswa, a project officer at Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services, said the conference was a “great opportunity” for Aboriginal community members to take a look at the resources available to them.

“A lot of the booths here had information pertaining to academic upgrading, which is something we need to put a big focus on in order to get our people and our clients into trades training or any kind of post-secondary programs,” Buswa said.