Public Service Commission stresses need for mobility

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The most popular areas of study for Aboriginal students right now seems to be Native studies, education and arts. At least this is the case at the University of Alberta, as reflected in their 1998-99 enrollment figures. But with growing demand for qualified Aboriginal employees in many sectors of the work force, Aboriginal students thinking about entering post-secondary education have many options available to them.

According to David Beckman, any area of study is a good one to get into for Aboriginal students wanting employment with the federal government. Beckman is the regional director general for the Public Service Commission Canada (PSC), responsible for Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

"If you're Aboriginal and have a degree, the federal government will probably have a job for you," he said, explaining most federal departments are looking to increase their numbers of Aboriginal employees. He stated the PSC is "trying to redress an imbalance, and ensure a representative public service."

To qualify for employment with the PSC, he suggested Aboriginal candidates should have at least one degree. In addition, people must be mobile, because many federal government jobs are in the Ottawa area, Beckman said.

According to Sydney McMillan, the most noticeable shortage of qualified Aboriginal candidates exists in finance, scientific and technical areas. McMillan is human resources consultant and Aboriginal recruitment advisor for the resource and learning branch of the PSC in the Alberta, N.W.T. and Nunavut regions. Mcmillan explained a number of federal departments have special recruitment initiatives in place designed to help address the shortages of Aboriginal employees. The PSC also tries to increase the number of Aboriginal employees by restricting some job competitions to Aboriginal candidates first, before making the positions available to all applicants.

The demand for qualified Aboriginal candidates in business, scientific and technology-based fields is not limited to employment within the public service.

According to Eva Stang, there's a huge demand for Aboriginal candidates in engineering and technology fields and in business-related fields in the private sector. Stang is Aboriginal liaison co-ordinator with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). She indicated many large industrial employers, including Syncrude, Suncor and AlPac, are contacting post-secondary institutions such as NAIT, looking for Aboriginal candidates to fill engineering and technological positions, as well as positions in business, accounting and human resources.

Cathy Sewell is community liaison co-ordinator/recruiter with Native student services at the University of Alberta. Sewell said she believes the best way for a student -Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike-to make a career choice is not to go into a career because the demand is there, but to choose a career doing something they enjoy.

Native student services at the University of Alberta offers pre-admission counselling, academic advising and program planning, educational and career planning, and bursary and scholarship application assistance. They also provide information through an on-campus Native newspaper, they organize Aboriginal cultural activities, liaise with Aboriginal communities and organizations, and provide lounge space for the Aboriginal student council.

The services provided to Aboriginal students at NAIT are similar to those provided by the U of A. Stang indicated her main role is to support Aboriginal students at all the NAIT campuses. She explained this support can take many forms, from providing personal counselling, to finding tutors, to acting as an advocate on the student's behalf. She also assists Aboriginal students with employment preparation, including resume writing, and she helps connect students with employers.

Stang is also involved in increasing cultural awareness among staff and students at NAIT, providing infomation abut the Nations and their different cultures, as well as helping increase understanding of Native spirituality.