SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Four Yellowknife students had the chance to mingle with senior key government managers in Ottawa last month to learn about careers in government international relations.

From left, Donovan Erutse, Arwyn Palongayak-Landry, Nicole Lawson and Caitlin Yakabuski are the four students from Sir John Franklin School who participated in an aboriginal youth leaders and international career perspectives workshop in Ottawa recently. - Katherine Hudson/NNSL photo

The four aboriginal students in Grades 11 and 12 from Sir John Franklin School attended the two-day aboriginal youth leaders and international career perspectives workshop put on by the federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), in Ottawa during the week of Feb. 21. The initiative is meant to help students and student counsellors learn more about the range of career opportunities with DFAIT in Ottawa, in regional offices across Canada and around the world.

"Aboriginal employees are not represented as much as we would like to have at Foreign Affairs; especially we would like to increase that," said Marie-Helene Lafond, co-ordinator of the event.

Nicole Lawson said the trip to Ottawa included a tour of the foreign affairs building, Parliament as well as the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

"We talked to the Canadian ambassador for the Dominican Republic on a conference call. It was pretty cool and people in the government did presentations on what their jobs were," she said. "It's another opportunity for after high school."

Arwyn Palongayak-Landry went on a tour of the communications department of the foreign affairs building and said he is keen to look into that route more.

"It's kind of like journalism. I was really interested in that," he said.

The four students, who were accompanied by an additional two from Nunavut, were chosen based on how they participate in school activities, their general attitude and their academic standing.

Doreen Cleary, a counsellor at Sir John Franklin, accompanied the students to Ottawa.

"(I was) quite excited because it's about jobs for aboriginal youth. I get to learn more about the careers that are offered and available for aboriginal youth with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Canada," she said.

Yellowknife Education District 1 superintendent Metro Huculak said it was a worthwhile opportunity for the students.

"Basically what the government is looking at is leadership opportunities for aboriginal students and to get involved in Canadian government, not only in Canada but abroad as well. It's a wonderful opportunity for these kids," he said.

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