Young hands take on the trades
Fort Simpson one of eight test sites in the North for youth pilot project
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, May 29, 2014
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Six young men from Fort Simpson have gained some additional skills while participating in a pilot project.
Gilbert Cazon, left, and his granddaughter Serenity Gargan stand with Clinton Kraus, Brandon Norwegian and Bobby Cazon and one of 12 picnic tables they constructed during an essential skills project offered in Fort Simpson. Ernie Deneyoua, Andy Deneyoua and Skylar Deneyoua also participated in the project. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo
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On May 23, a small celebration was held at the Liidlii Kue First Nation's band office to mark Bobby Cazon, Clinton Kraus, Ernie Deneyoua, Andy Deneyoua, Skylar Deneyoua and Brandon Norwegian's completion of an essential skills project during which they constructed 12 picnic tables. The project, that the First Nation's Brighter Futures and Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy programs organized was part of the pan-northern Youth Learning Project.
The project, which is funded by the federal Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, is being offered in the NWT, Yukon, Nunavut and Labrador. The idea was to take a topic that youth ages 15 to 29 are interested in and embed literacy and essential skills in a program related to it, said Katie Randall, a youth and adults services co-ordinator with the NWT Literacy Council, which is managing the project in the territory.
The program in Fort Simpson was one of two pilot sites in the NWT. The other in Hay River involved film making as part of a boat repair project.
"It's really cool how different all eight of them have been," Randall said about the two projects in each of the territories and provinces.
In Fort Simpson, building was identified as an interest and picnic tables were chosen as a project that could act as a stepping stone into that career field, said Randall.
"It was pretty cool," said Kraus, one of the participants.
Kraus, who'd never built a picnic table before, said he enjoyed the experience. The project gave participants something to do other than walk around, he said.
"I wouldn't mind doing it again," said Kraus.
The picnic tables are unique. Each was constructed from a sheet of plywood and disassembles into eight pieces so it can be moved by vehicle, boat or snowmobile.
"It was pretty good. I didn't think you could make anything out of one little sheet of plywood," said Norwegian.
Working with wood was a new skill for Norwegian. Although he doesn't plan to pursue building, he said the project was a chance to try it out.
Six of the 10 people who started the project April 30, finished May 20. Participants learned essential skills and strengthened their literacy while doing tasks like measuring the materials, following basic instructions and learning to work with tools.
"We're hoping this project will either make them want to return to school, do entrepreneurship or find employment," said Cheryl Cli, the Brighter Futures co-ordinator.
Gilbert Cazon instructed the project as part of his business, K'iyeli Translation, Interpreting and Transcribing Services.
"The whole focus was to give them a hands-on project," he said.
