Conversation with Indigenous youth

University means freedom. Freedom from poverty. Education and a great career has given back my pride and independence. My biggest educational regret is that I am 40 years old and still trying to finish my bachelors degree. I tell my kids not to wait as long as I have, as they can start their lives earlier, after high school. With the greater wages, they can travel, buy a house and raise a family without the constant struggle. As an Aboriginal Education Coordinator, I am proud to say that in our territory, the number of dogwood graduates has gone up! This year was the highest amount of Post Secondary applicants for funding. Personally I couldn’t believe all applicants couldn’t go to school due to lack of funding! It is my hope that in our territory, agencies can work together to find more partnerships to fund our students. I am very proud to see our people succeeding. It is a hard road, but well worth the drive! Watch out world, First Nations People are getting organized!

It would be nice to see ourselves at University for example there a very few native employees at the school that are native..it would demostration role models also that our education does pay off. Having Native employees would know where we come and understand our issues

I also sit on the Board of Governors for NVIT (Nicola Valley Institute of Technology). We are BC’s Aboriginal Public Post-Secondary Institute. I’m biased of course, but I truly believe we have created the appropriate template to work from for aboriginal belonging in post-secondary studies.

Actually, I would like to raise some awarness that in schools there is hardly any education about First Nations peoples. I go to a school off-reserve and there is no education to anyone -native or non-native- about the aboriginal people. Because of this, non-natives don’t know why things are the way they are. About certain rights us as natives peoples have. Because non-natives don’t know about this, they tend to feel a tad bit jealous. This has even come out to me. People being racist, and quite discriminitory to not only me, but the other Aboriginals in the school. This could be a reason why students are afraid to go to school. They really don’t want to put up with things like racism and discrimination.

University is a huge stepping stone for exploring specific career goals > however bridges must be gapped with the realities of being placed within the working world. Not every graduate will be employed in thier field of studies no matter the success in grades. Our young people of North America must realize that career opportunities may lead to relocating off of the Reservation of which they were raised, or other Territories according to the diversity of career choices…I see no bridges that help our people *hands on* through that transition, and many people end up coming home with an education yet have employment barriers…How will AUCC assist in this matter?

Univesrity means that I can come back to my reservation and inspire others to succeed. Most people on the reservation are neglected the opportunity to go to college/university. I want to be a leader and role model for the younger children who aren’t inspired to become anything. They don’t think they have a future outside the reservation. I want to show these kids that it’s alright to leave the reservation to get and education, because to some people there is a barrier between them and the community. I want to go to university to prove to people that aboriginal people can be educated and bring that education back to the community to propel our people toward sovereignty.

CAN THE UNIVERSITIES WORK WITH LOCAL HOUSING E.G./ CANADA HOUSING CORPORTION WORKING WITH NATIVE HOUSING FOR MUTURE STUDENTS WITH FAMILIES WHO LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME. THE BIGGEST STRUGGLE IS THE TRANSITION FOR HOUSING.

Aaniin, In answer to the question of “What does university mean to you?” I have a different perspective, mature students. As a person who struggled with secondary school then left the school system but, finally was able to go back at the age of 27 as a mature student to U.W.O. and then Lakehead. Now, as a recently retired 65 year old teacher of 30 plus years in Ontario’s Sioux Lookout District and an instructor in Eskasoni my message is “Life experience counts too so, don’t give up on your future! The doors of Education are always open regardless of how old you are!” Conversation with Indigenous Youth are VERY important at EVERY level of their education journey !!!! The Indigenous Student Voice “Rocks” ! All the Best ! Chii Miigwetch, Wela:lin

I have thought about going to university because I would like to get e high paying job. I’m interested in architecture and I would need post-secondary training for that. I would like to go to a local college or universtity so that i can be close to my family.

What universities need to do: There needs to be more recognition of aboriginal peoples in the curriculum and in overall university life. An aboriginal language course should be implemented ASAP and offered as a language credit. We are forced to learn different migrant languages, but yet there is little to no history being taught about our people. And not only history, but present day issues of native people. I no longer want to feel separated from other university populations and I think that in order to feel more unified, there needs to be more recognition of our people. Thank you!

OF COURSE I WANT TO GO! I WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MY OWN FUTURE! I want to be a dancer and travel to as many different places as I can. University is a way to help me reach that goal.

I would be interested in hearing Shawn’s perspective on academic success for Aboriginal students. What defines it for both on/off reserve people? What defines it for urban/metis/non-status? How do we work towards having post-secondary education as a goal? Thank you.

University, to me, means a chance. It’s a way to get somewhere and for me to be who I want to. By furthering my education, I can become a role modal in my community. It will give me a chance to give back to my home – something I’ve wanted to do for a long time just never knew how. It gives me to be proud of.

University to me means opportunity. It means the ability to engage in higher level education, learn about social issues, and a higher level of consciousness. Education is one thing that cannot be taken away from a human being. It enables strength and power to an individual.

To reach my education goals I am going to do researching, which I have already started, and getting into more books and studying. Talking to people who have been to university would help.

On behalf of Shingwuak Anishinaabe Students Association at Algoma U (sault ste marie), we understand the need to reach your goals. For Shawn Atleo; what is the status of the 2% spending cap? There are budget constraints for students especially going to University in the cities, students should not be living below the poverty line, with housing issues, travelling expenses, etc. For the high school students; The challenges that you will face will be worth it. Utilize all your resources, participate in the community as much as you can, be sure to have a loud voice to be heard!

Tansi, The most important foundational steps to reach your education goals are to; commit yourself to your studies and get involved on campus as well. Im in my 2nd year of Native Studies and currently the VP-Aboriginal Relations of the Indgineous Students’ Council on campus of the University of Saskatchewan. The Indigenous Students’ Council is a student group at the University of Saskatchewan. Our purpose is to unify and engage Aboriginal students on campus through cultural, academic, and leisure activities. We are a council of eight students and we work together to plan and implement programs that fulfill our purpose. Currently there are over 1700 Aboriginal students at the University of Saskatchewan and each student desires to obtain a post-secondary degree or higher. Along the way there will be obstacles and fleeting moments of doubt, but the reach for higher education is a journey that students are willing to fight for. This journey begins before the students set foot on campus. It begins during high school when the students begin to think of their career goals. Some students wish to become doctors and lawyers while other students are still contemplating what post-secondary education can do for them. It is at these moments that our council would like to focus on. For the past year we have worked on creating a Role Model program designed to connect University Aboriginal students with high school Aboriginal students. The goal of this program is to raise awareness about post- secondary opportunities available to youlng students. Since my first year, I’ve been diligently involved on campus bringing issues to the table and having solutions. Having a comfortable transition was something I eased into but I see a lot of my peers on campus have issues transitioning and I felt we on the Indigenous Students’ Council had to do something.

I’m not sure how to apply to the right school, how do I find out about programs offered across Canada?

I have considered going. I hear First Nations students don’t have to have high grades. Is this true?

I never considered NOT going to university. It was never a viable option for me. I had always intended to reach my fullest potential and I knew that a post-secondary education was needed for that. With the funding available to me, it was an attainable goal and I am grateful for every moment of it (even the stressful exam periods!) I know my family is proud of me for going and not considering staying home.

Once I’m done high school I want to get out of here to further my education and experience what life is like out of the reserve. Leaving for school will help me become more independant and it will also help me become who I want to be. The bad thing about going to university is leaving my friends and family and learning to adjust to the life out there. Some of the community members lack both secondary and post-secondary education, so it is kind of hard to get a well paying job here or anywhere else. It is important to finish school if you really want to get somewhere in life. I have been planning on going to university for a few years now, and it would also make my parents proud. Having them there to push me and help me succeed is great because if it weren’t for them, I don’t think I would be where I am today.

Hello/Ahneen, I’m from Nipissing First Nation and before coming to university a lot was taken under consideration. I’ve never been away from home and was worried about whether I would feel home sick or would deal well with the distance. The work load that comes with university also worried me but upon coming to the Mount, I learned to take advantage of my opportunities and wouldn’t change a thing. You begin to meet new people and get involved in your university community and it makes it a lot easier. Coming to university opens up a lot of doors for you and at the end of those four years it is something you will always have.

University Means 2 things Choice and Sarcrafice, University is a choice from where you go and what you take, its the first time that you get to choose what is important to you and what you need moving toward your goals. Its a choice you make how far you want to go and when you want to stop whether its in law, medicine or a master in global studies. It also is about sacrifice, sacrificing times with family, friends and sometimes social life to pursue your dreams and to ensure that your future. Sacrificing your time and effort for the good of your family, community, and Nation, and it also means you may have to leave all you hold dear to pursue whats important to you. Welalin.

I don’t know where to ask a question so I will try here: I would be interested in hearing Shawn’s perspective on academic success for aboriginal students. What defines it for both on/off reserve people? What defines it for urban/metis/non-status? How do we work towards having post-secondary education as a goal? Thank you. Shane Coutlee Vice Principal Salmon Arm Secondary

Education is very important to both my and my community. Once I’m done high school I want to get out of here to further my education and experience what life is like out of the reserve. Leaving for school will help me become more independant and it will also help me become who I want to be. The bad thing about going to university is leaving my friends and family and learning to adjust to the life out there. Some of the community members lack both secondary and post-secondary education, so it is kind of hard to get a well paying job here or anywhere else. It is important to finish school if you really want to get somewhere in life.

For myself it would be important to go out for university and after that it would be important to my community for me to come back and work in my community. This community has nothing like what I wanted to be. The other poeple in the community would be good if they went out for education like for a nurse, dentist, or something so outsiders wouldn’t come here that much. We need people like that here for them to go out for higher education. University is nothing like high school, it has lots of writing in one class that you can’t waste time talking or something else. It’s a school education for your future and what you are planning to doing and lots of homework to be finished before the due date. I have been to university to hang out and what is going on. I kind of liked what goes on and what they’re doing. I have thought about going to university, but I am styill not sure yet because there are other things I plan on doing for what I truely want to do. Its Canadian Forces that I plan on after high school. So I am not sure if I’ll try to attend university.

To me education is important, it is one way to get out of this place. A bad thing about going to university or college is that there might be harder work then in high school and that I might have to be away from my family and probably my girlfriend for awhile. University to me is kind of failure, and maybe a sign of success. I have considdred going out for university or college. I will need to keep going to schoool and keep working hard for a better education for me, my family and my girlfriend.

I am attending Loyalist College in the Child and Youth Worker program. Being here means the world to me. It presents an opportunity for me to take my life experiences and coping skills to help make a difference in the world with children and youth. This course has not only educated me about how to help youth but also about how to be a more profession, caring, and all around better person. I am learning skills that I can pass on to my children as well to be more kind and compassionate individuals in their lives. Without the funding I receive, I would not have gone to college. The debts I would have to pay back versus the money I will make in the field when I start working would make life hard to get through. I chose this course to help kids, not to make money; with knowing I won’t make a lot of money this funding makes it worthwhile to go through. With the course load and homework that is expected in this course I can’t work while in college. There is barely enough time to do assignments and balance my family life and responsibilities without work to add on to it. The funding that has been provided to me and other native students has given us an opportunity to succeed in circumstances where we may not have had a chance to without it. If the funding does not continue in the future, I know personally a lot of lost opportunities will take place for a lot of people, the students who need it as well as the people who would benefit from whatever their choices are to do in their careers. I also plan to take addictions counselling once I graduate from this course, which is one more thing that is made possible thanks to the funding I receive. Thank you very much for taking the time to read my thoughts and opinions on why the continuation of funding is so important to us all.