Canada's Native youth go abroad

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On Oct. 5, eight Aboriginal youth from various locations across the nation departed for South Pacific island internship placements.

This is the second year in a row that the Pacific Peoples Partnership (formerly South Pacific Peoples Foundation) has offered an overseas internship program.

Building upon the success of last year's program, project coordinator Mutang Urud, an Indigenous person from Borneo, Malaysia says, "We are very fortunate to have the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade sponsor the internship program, and it is proving to be a worthwhile experience both for the First Nations interns and the Indigenous organizations in the South Pacific. In fact we have just got word that two more placements will be added to the eight we just sent down to the South Pacific."

The placements are six months terms and place First Nations youth from Canada with Indigenous organizations in the South Pacific.

Aaron McMillan of Victoria, a Cree from Alberta, and Jay Lambert of Chilliwack, who is Metis, will be working in the area of resource management at the Ngati Wai Trust Board in New Zealand. One will be working with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and another setting up websites and teaching computer use to various Maori communities in Whangarei area on New Zealand's North Island. Jenny Stirling, a Nlaka'pamux from Merritt, and Deana Machin, an Okanagan from Kelowna, will both be working at the Huakina Development Trust in Pukekohe near Auckland, New Zealand. Deana's work will deal with environmental issues that affect Maori people, while Jenny will be working in the area of social services delivery.

Reaghan Tarbell, a Mohawk from Kahnawake, will be working with the Cook Island Herald/TV/Radio. She will be the mentor journalist, writing news stories and feature articles, as well as doing publication layout and training her colleagues in news writing and preparing press releases for "Koutu Nui" the principle chiefs organization for Rarotonga.

Susanne Bate, a Alberta Metis from Montreal, will be working with Te Tika Mataipo (Chief Dorice Reid) of Rarotonga. Ms. Bate will be assisting in a community-based tourism project, researching traditional knowledge resource management practices, as well as helping with the organization of a South Pacific women's conference called "Environment of Peace."

"I grew up in Chilliwack but have lived in Montreal for the past 10 years," said Bates. "I'm going to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands to fulfill any young anthropologist's dreams, yea!"

Katherine Sam, a Ktunaxa who has been studying in Toronto, will assist with research on alternative sentencing for young offenders through the Vanuatu Cultural Centre. Her placement is in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Sam will be visiting different islands in Vanuatu to assist in research and consultation with the ni-Vanuatu and possibly if time permits, assist in drafting a bill that will be tabled in the Vanuatu parliament.

Alisa Kelly, a Gwich'in living in Campbell River, will be going to Port Vila, Vanuatu for a placement with the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organizations. She will assist with the everyday facilitating of networks among Pacific islands and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's). She will also assist in coordinating a Pacific regional workshop, including the writing of conference proceedings.

One of the successes of last year's program is the possibility of Lee Wittmann, a former intern (member of the Heiltsuk First Nations) returning to Indonesia for a two-year CUSO placement in helping to open a new cultural centre. The internship program is about building bridges and creating links between the Indigenous peoples of Canada and of those peoples in the Pacific and Oceania.

To be eligible, applicants need to be under 30 years of age, unemployed or underemployed, and not in school. Aboriginal youth wanting to get involved in this program can get more information at ; or by callig Pacific Peoples Partnership at (250) 381-4131.