College helps place students

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Lethbridge Community College is actively pursuing jobs for its Native students.

Since Tony Many Fingers began as Aboriginal Employment Co-ordinator for the southern Alberta college in April 2000, more than 120 Native students have made use of a college web site listing summer and permanent jobs across the country.

There were only eight the year before.

"It's a culture thing," said Many Fingers. "They're really shy. For whatever reason, they're not coming here."

Many Fingers has therefore taken an aggressive approach to solving what he sees as a problem.

"I go out, grab them, and drag them in," he said.

There are between 500 and 600 Aboriginal students out of 6,000 registered at the college full- and part-time.

Many Fingers helps them get jobs on the Peigan reserve to the west or the Blood reserve to the east.

"If it's an Aboriginal student who has marketable skills, it's quite easy to find them jobs," said Many Fingers.

But for those who want to get jobs off-reserve, Many Fingers targets potential "non-traditional" employers with a Powerpoint presentation to make them aware of Aboriginal culture.

According to a 1995 study, the Aboriginal population made up only one per cent of Lethbridge's work force.

"There's not much interaction between the Peigan and Blood and Lethbridge people."

Many Fingers' position is funded to the end of June, but it could be renewed by the board.