Manitoba committee helps young people get careers on track

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The Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Career Awareness Committee (MAYCAC) has demonstrated the huge importance of role models in the lives of youth. Located in Winnipeg, the organization was formed in 1987 by a group of dedicated individuals who were concerned by the need to put positive Aboriginal role models before Aboriginal youth. It has a solid history of success in achieving its objectives.

"We not only promote positive Aboriginal role models, but we provide employment, mentoring and work experience opportunities, as well as encourage early career planning and information," said president Clayton Sandy. In the 10 years in his present position, he has seen many young people come through his association on their way to successful careers. "When we visit schools to talk to the students, we urge them to stay in school-that's got to be their first priority. But we also share our own stories, as well. Many of us grew up in single [parent] homes, often with government social assistance as our only source of income, yet we have become successful in spite of these humble and often tumultuous beginnings," he said.

Sandy estimates that more than 70 per cent of the role models who are cited as examples of Aboriginal success stories have come from dysfunctional homes where residential school issues and other social problems are present, yet they have not let anything keep them from successfully pursuing their dreams.

"It doesn't matter if there are no supports at home, we have supports here. And we level with them too. We give them a realistic picture of what they can expect so they can be prepared. They will still experience racism, but that doesn't need to stop them because they can turn it aside and stay directed on their goals."

A yearly publication that profiles role models now has 700 success stories archived.

"That's grown from 38 in 1990, the first year we published," he said.

The corporate sector has always supported and participated in MAYCAC activities.

"They've been with us since Day One," said Sandy. "The first national organizations, such as the Royal Bank, began to understand the Native community by hosting conferences with us, hearing our stories, participating in powwows, and hiring our people," he explained.

The group realizes that the role model program not only encourages success in careers, but also advocates a whole lifestyle change that can be achieved by changing attitudes.

"Consider that just about everyone of us who is successful comes from homes where substance abuse was rampant. Yet we've all come through school, attended post-secondary education, and are enjoying fruitful and rewarding careers. That's when you realize that MAYCAC represents more than just employment issues, it fosters a whole way of life, " he added.

Chapters have been established in Ontario and Nunavut and MAYCAC attends events such as Edmonton's annual Dreamcatcher Conference hosted by Grant MacEwan College, as well as meetings with tribal and business groups so the dreams of success can be explored. The group also hosts conferences and workshops across Canada wherever and whenever possible.

But the most exciting project MAYCAC offers is the high school and university internship program, said Sandy.

"High school students are matched up with a participating employer in a career of their own choice for 26 weeks of half-day attendance in an employment position. The student is also offered a summer job," he explained. That's where Royal Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Arnold Brothers Trucking, Manitoba Hydro, provincial and federal governments, and many others, have come on board. An added plus, Sandy added, is that the students are not only promoting MAYCAC, but they are promoting themselves as worthwhile Aboriginal employees. Non-Native staff members have enjoyed working with the Aboriginal employees.

"Many tell us they've never had an opportunity to know or spend quality time with a Native person ad a lot of misconceptions exist which are overcome once they work together."

Sandy noted that the corporations begin to work with the students starting in Grade 10 and by the third year, when the student is graduating from Grade 12, the employer will often provide some sort of scholarship for further post-secondary training.

"They're basically grooming a successful employee."

MAYCAC's education and training department provides a modest wage subsidy for employers, which helps to encourage industry involvement. "Students in law or criminology at university are linked up with the Winnipeg Police Service or the RCMP training school in Regina. They experience first-hand the training and the work that the peace officers do, immersing themselves in the police culture totally," he said. One young man pulled up to his on-reserve parental home driving a police car and wearing a Mountie uniform. He made quite an impression on his family and friends.

"After that, all the young kids wanted to be a member of the RCMP," he added.