“Our children and youth are the change makers of the future. Education is the key. If youth are supported they will change their circumstances, communities, and this country,” Roberta Jamieson told people at a fundraising luncheon in Yellowknife last week. Ms. Jamieson is the President and CEO of Indspire, an indigenous-led charitable foundation that invests in the education of indigenous people and inspires achievement.
Support for indigenous children and youth in school was a key theme throughout Ms. Jamieson’s talk. Despite the challenges indigenous people often face in completing their education, she sees a rich potential for educated, trained indigenous youth to contribute significantly to Canada’s labour shortage. She noted the importance of positive role models and mentors for youth, and encouraged all of us to take on those roles.
Ms. Jamieson then challenged employers in the room to reflect on how well their policies support indigenous people in their workplaces. Indigenous adults often face a clash of cultures when they transition into the workplace. Traditional cultural values that emphasize the importance of family and the role of the land in the social identity of indigenous employees may conflict with the expectations of some employers. “How can we accommodate these differences?” she asked.
Congratulations to the YWCA and the Status of Women who hosted the lunch. It was one of the more inspiring and motivational events I have attended. Ms. Jamieson balanced the realities of the current situation with optimism for the future, urging everyone to work together. For more information on the work of Indspire, go to www.indspire.ca.
-- Helen Balanoff
