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St. Pats hosts annual aboriginal career fair Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services Published Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The annual fair, which is put together by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF), allows aboriginal students to connect with employers through workshops and trade presentations from industry, government and university representatives. More broadly, the students are encouraged to dream and to think about what they can accomplish in the future. "It is a bit of a misnomer to call the event a 'career fair' because it is a student conference more than anything," said Roberta Jamieson, NAAF president and chief executive officer, noting students from North of 60 benefit in various ways, including engaging with other people from other regions of a similar age range and experience. Perhaps most importantly, the message instilled in the students is that they are needed as workers in the economy. Jamieson, who has been with the organization for seven years, stated that she has pushed hard to make sure that Northern aboriginal youth are exposed to these types of career fairs. She noted this was the second time the event had been held in Yellowknife, aside from it also having been held in Iqaluit and Prince George, B.C. in the past. She stated about 35,000 students have gone through the fair over the years. The Yellowknife event itself had a healthy turnout of about 150 students who were introduced to 20 different employers. The most important aspect of the program to Jamieson is facilitating the educational journey of aboriginal youth and showing them the opportunities that are out there for them to make their lives better, as opposed to a top-down message of just telling them to go to school. Jamieson explained that this point is evident by the distinguished guests who were in attendance. "Role models figure prominently because if students can see in the flesh their own people succeeding, they will believe they can do it too," she said. Such figures of aboriginal descent this year included Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus who has been a very influential opponent to the expansion of the tar sands and the Keystone Pipeline XL project to the southern United States. He encouraged students to become leaders in order to protect the environment and stand up for the cause of science. Joey Stylez, a Saskatchewan-based rapper and a popular artist among the students, stirred much energy and enthusiasm among the crowd numerous times throughout the day. Other guests included hosts Linsay Willier, a prominent aboriginal model who has appeared on the popular television series Canada's Next Top Model, and James Jones, a street dancer who has appeared on So You Think You Can Dance Canada. Willier and Jones together form Dreams in Motion, a group that seeks to empower youth and inspire leadership. Jamieson stated that NAAF sponsored 133 doctors, 220 nurses and 97 lawyers last year across the country and has provided over $42 million to 11,500 students. Fifteen-year-old Edmund Gargan of Deh Gah School in Fort Providence stated that he hoped to join the Canadian Forces in British Columbia after he graduated. Others, such as Sidney Squirrel, 17, also of Deh Gah School, said he hoped to explore music in college, much in the style of Stylez.
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