Calling Lake School bursts with artistic talent

Just call Thor Houle Auger Mr. October. That's the month on this year's Aboriginal EnvironCareers calendar where his artwork is published.

Houle Auger was the provincial winner in a national art contest designed by BEAHR (Building Environmental Aboriginal Human Resources) to raise awareness in Aboriginal youth about careers in the environmental sector. The Grade 10 student from Calling Lake school is the second student from there to be chosen as a provincial winner in the contest that has been held for three years running. Last year, Kojitch Gambler, now in Grade 11, won for his work.

"It basically started as an initiative to help encourage Aboriginal youth to learn more about careers that are available in the environment," said Ivy Kim Scott, the Career Awareness Project co-ordinator at BEAHR.

"So they do a bit of research to learn more about the different careers and depict that on paper and send that in."

Houle Auger's work draws from his Aboriginal heritage, said the veteran football player who toils for the Athabasca Pacers as a running-back and outside line-backer. His drawing depicts the symbols of the four directions and bear's paws, representing bravery and strength.

Gambler, a hunter, is concerned about the environment and the affect that logging is having on the welfare of the animals that live in the wooded areas near his home. His drawing depicts pristine forests, lakes, rivers and trees, and a logging mill nestled neatly within.

Both young men say they like to draw, but they're not making a career for themselves in the arts.
Houle Auger wants to become a tradesman, either a welder or an electrician. Gambler sees himself as a heavy equipment operator. Both intend to look to local employer, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (AL-PAC) for summer work and for apprenticeship opportunities.

BEAHR is a relatively new organization, which focuses on career awareness, training and employment.

It began out of a partnership between ECO Canada (Environmental Careers Organizations Canada) and Aboriginal Human Resources Development Canada.

The calendar contest asks participants to research environmental careers, and a Web site gives information about training and the specifics about the careers available in that sector. Thirty-nine careers are profiled at www.beahr.com/aec, said Ivy Kim Scott.

"You can go to the Web site for more information on the type of classes they need to take in high school, what universities offer the particular program. There's a break-down of different careers that are available, so an in-depth synopsis as to what is involved in becoming a conservation biologist [for example], what they do, what schooling is required, the kind of money they would make, whether they would be working in an office, or out in the field...

"The great thing about it is that we also have Aboriginal role models, so actual Aboriginal practitioners, and we have biographies. Their stories are on the Web site as well. They talk about some of the problems that they might have encountered going through school, perhaps racism, or having to leave their home community. Dealing with home sickness, the problems of encountering a tough course... Perhaps they failed chemistry the first time, and they failed chemistry the second time, but the third time they made it, because they knew that that was what they wanted to do. So the Web site helps them in that respect and allows them to have some questions answered."

BEAHR usually puts out the call for artwork at the end of August.