First Nations Youth Employment Program Exposes Students to Careers in Natural Resources
Dr. Carney Matheson, chair of Lakehead's Department of Anthropology, and Savannah Bondy examine an artifact that Bondy found near the Lakehead University campus.
July 30, 2015 – Thunder Bay, ON
The First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program (FNNRYEP) has more than 55 participants learning about archaeology, geography, dendrology, sustainable energy sources, entrepreneurship, aboriginal mentorship and more this week during a Science Camp at Lakehead University and Confederation College.
Since 2000, Outland Camps has partnered with Confederation College to offer the FNNRYEP to provide employment and learning opportunities for First Nations youth. To date, the partnership has resulted in over 355 participants being successfully trained, launching numerous careers in the Natural Resource sector.
“We are proud to have played a role in inspiring many First Nations youth to pursue post-secondary education and in some cases, natural resources career paths,” said Riley Burton, Chair of the School of Engineering Technology and Trades at Confederation College. “Not only does the program provide participants with meaningful employment throughout the summer, it also helps to further develop their skills and gives them a ‘real-world’ experience while they learn.”
Lakehead University and Outland Camps have formed a new partnership this year to expand the program. Called the Mink Lake First Nations Youth Employment Program (MLFNYEP), the experience mirrors that of the FNNRYEP.
“We are excited to be a part of this program,” said Dr. Todd Randall, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies. “This is an excellent way to introduce young Aboriginal people to their choices for postsecondary education in the region, and it makes this experience less daunting.”
Mark Kmill, Field Supervisor at Outland Camps, spoke to the partnerships with both institutions.
“We are thrilled to be working with both Confederation College and Lakehead University to empower Aboriginal youth through a focus on leadership development, social skills and work ethic,” he said. “Seeing participants’ self-esteem and skill-sets grow throughout the program solidifies the value it provides.”
On Thursday, July 30, participants from both programs learned about archaeology and had the opportunity to perform an authentic archaeological dig at Lakehead University on a 7,000 year-old site.
Throughout the week, each program follows its own schedule, but the two groups come together several times to maximize the learning experience and opportunities. The week has included field trips to local facilities and has welcomed guest speakers from Confederation College, Lakehead University and the natural resources industry. Topics included dendrology, health and fitness, biomass energy, entrepreneurship, aboriginal mentorship and more.
FNNRYEP participants will return to their home base at Sandbar Camp (near Ignace), while MLFNYEP participants will return to Mink Lake. Both programs will continue through mid-August, with closing ceremonies taking place at Quetico Provincial Park on August 20.
Funding for both programs is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Canadian Forest Services and industry partners.
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For more information, please contact:
Lakehead University:
Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer
Ph: (807) 343-8177, Email: mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca
Confederation College:
Ashleigh Quarrell, Media and Communications Officer
Ph: (807) 475-6565, Cell: (807) 632-5296,
Email: aquarrel@confederationc.on.ca
In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.
Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2nd in Ontario and 3rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.
Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has eight regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Geraldton, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Wawa.
Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 8,800 combined full and part-time students per year and currently has a total of 805 full and part-time employees. Confederation’s regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $411.2 million annually.