Mentors set to smooth the road to business for youth
By Kelly Anne Smith
NORTH BAY – A series of workshops will introduce the business world to local Aboriginal Youth.
Project Manager of the In.Business program, Kyle Thomas, says the program started at Cape Breton University through the Purdy Crawford Aboriginal Business Studies. It aims to promote the global business market to Aboriginal Youth. Thomas explains that the program is trying to answer why aboriginal young people are not entering post-secondary education.
“The Purdy Crawford Chair in Aboriginal Business Studies is named after the business leader who was named an honorary chief of the Membertou First Nation in Nova Scotia for his support of aboriginal issues. He created the mentorship program In.Business. Aboriginal high school students in grades 10 through 12 are exposed to the world of business and business education. They are paired with leaders in human resources, marketing, and economic development.”
At the opening In.Business conference on October 29 at Nipissing University and October 30th at the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre, students will be matched with their business mentor who is a young aboriginal business person. They will interact through social media with smart phone technology.
The students will be given business challenges and will be able to ask questions. Data from the mentorship program will be explored during the closing conference set for the spring.
Thomas says the low numbers of aboriginal entrepreneurs presents a bit of a hurdle. “There are not too many aboriginal people who went through business programs from the Nipissing-Parry Sound District. I’m also working with some students from Québec and Iqaluit so I’m trying to recruit mentors from their regions as well.”
According to the 2006 Census, there were at the time 9000 First Nation, Métis or Inuit people in Ontario who had their own business.
Thomas explains that the study is designed to figure out where the gaps are. “So we are doing research, looking at curriculum, and holding roundtable discussions across Canada. They are also working on an aboriginal business textbook to be applied at the university level. They are doing quite a bit of research with this In. Business mentorship program being one of the pillars. We need to give opportunities to the upcoming business leaders.”
James Dean Beaucage attended the Dream Series event titled Spinning Our Web: Exploring Positive Forces and Mentors in the Wandering Years held at the North Bay Indian Friendship Centre. Beaucage thought the workshop helpful in sparking his dreams for the future. “I just want to see the world. I’ll try to visit every country once. That’s what I have mapped out so far. ” The twenty-two year old has plans to become a chef and work on luxury liners and at resorts. He has looked into Humber College and the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts in BC to get educated. He is already a connoisseur of Italian cuisine and the French dish Steak au Poivre.
His cousin Jordan Beaucage also participated. “I know I want to be a mechanic and eventually a race-car driver. My passion is definitely driving.” Jordan Beaucage is 21 years old and has been positively influenced already.
“I used to work at Big Medicine Studio last year. Sid Bobb and Penny Couchie talked about how they used to work on different shows. They have taken what they learned and made their own program for youth. I would like to do that. I’d like to create a youth program to keep youth busy in mechanics. “ Beaucage dreams of a BMW as well.
The Urban Aboriginal Strategy Coordinator Dawn Lamothe thought about the wandering years when writing the proposal for the dreams and strengths with mentors workshop. “I had in mind the 4 directions.The Eastern direction, the yellow on the medicine wheel, is a part of the life teachings. That is when you are in your wandering years. Then, you are looking to have questions answered. So I wanted to host an event where people could have their questions answered.”
Lamothe supports mentorship. “Find someone. I have had many mentors. Someone you gain a connection with can spark up an interest you hadn’t considered before. Even if you don’t use it that moment, you will remember that. “
Lamothe talked about working with the youth to come up with a plan based on their feedback, verbally and with surveys.
The North Bay Indian Friendship Centre was full of food, chatter, laughter, drumming and singing. Youth were directed to use various stations set up with paints and markers to visually explore what their dreams are.
Lamothe asked “What are your dreams? It doesn’t matter what age you are. We are trying to target 14 to 29, but really you can have a dream at any age.”