source: Farm and Food Report
Many career options were featured at the 2005 Stepping Stones Career Fair held recently in Regina, with 80 booths representing private sector, non-profit and government organizations.
Booth hosts were all there to share pieces of wisdom about career opportunities for Aboriginal youth.
Scott Wright, Director of Crop Development at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, was one of those called to raise awareness about the professional opportunities that await Aboriginal students.
“The career fair gives students a chance to see what spectrum is available to them as they graduate and as they move forward in their lives. This is our chance to raise the profile of agriculture, of careers in the agricultural sector, and of career options at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, for Aboriginal youth.”
More than 1,000 students attended from Regina and surrounding area schools — and from as far away as Yorkton and Saskatoon.
Audrey Haines, a Human Resources Consultant at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, was thrilled about this unparalleled opportunity to connect with a young audience.
“It has been great. We have had students as young as Grade 6 come by. It is very early in their career discernment process. Some don’t have a lot of questions yet. But it is important that we have a presence here and that they think of us as an option. We’ve been talking about everything from basic production to science and technology-based careers, as well.”
The demographic trends of recent years and the land settlements we are witnessing point to the development of a significant agriculture segment as part of First Nations economic activities over the coming years, according to Wright.
“We have seen increased interest as the lands expand among the bands and nations in terms of making agriculture a cornerstone of what they are able to do. The opportunities in terms of careers in agriculture range all the way from being a producer or an agronomist, right through to being a scientist.”
Soil science, plant science or livestock science are all very real potential career choices, explains Wright.
“The variety of careers takes us beyond farming, well into the most high-tech sciences, including value-adding and bio-processing.”
Wright is quick to point out that this is just a continuation of something that goes back to before the early days of European settlement in Saskatchewan.
“People have been involved in agricultural activities among First Nations communities for quite some time. How do we see the students responding? I think, with every group this age, there is a challenge in catching interest and in catching a perspective that says this is what they want to do for the future. This said, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food is very aware of opportunities for the Aboriginal community to provide future employees. We are looking for the best and the brightest to contribute to agriculture, from all walks of life!”
Already, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food is seeing an increased awareness of the agricultural potential among Aboriginal communities.
“We have been invited to join opportunities looking at the Lebret Farm, which is a Metis-managed farm. We see increased activities around irrigation, for example, and Aboriginal communities that are interested in moving themselves forward in agriculture. I see tremendous interest from the Aboriginal community and a lot of buy in. We need to nurture this interest.”
For more information, contact:
Scott Wright
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306)787-4661
Audrey Haines
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306)787-7141
Many career options were featured at the 2005 Stepping Stones Career Fair held recently in Regina, with 80 booths representing private sector, non-profit and government organizations.
Booth hosts were all there to share pieces of wisdom about career opportunities for Aboriginal youth.
Scott Wright, Director of Crop Development at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, was one of those called to raise awareness about the professional opportunities that await Aboriginal students.
“The career fair gives students a chance to see what spectrum is available to them as they graduate and as they move forward in their lives. This is our chance to raise the profile of agriculture, of careers in the agricultural sector, and of career options at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, for Aboriginal youth.”
More than 1,000 students attended from Regina and surrounding area schools — and from as far away as Yorkton and Saskatoon.
Audrey Haines, a Human Resources Consultant at Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, was thrilled about this unparalleled opportunity to connect with a young audience.
“It has been great. We have had students as young as Grade 6 come by. It is very early in their career discernment process. Some don’t have a lot of questions yet. But it is important that we have a presence here and that they think of us as an option. We’ve been talking about everything from basic production to science and technology-based careers, as well.”
The demographic trends of recent years and the land settlements we are witnessing point to the development of a significant agriculture segment as part of First Nations economic activities over the coming years, according to Wright.
“We have seen increased interest as the lands expand among the bands and nations in terms of making agriculture a cornerstone of what they are able to do. The opportunities in terms of careers in agriculture range all the way from being a producer or an agronomist, right through to being a scientist.”
Soil science, plant science or livestock science are all very real potential career choices, explains Wright.
“The variety of careers takes us beyond farming, well into the most high-tech sciences, including value-adding and bio-processing.”
Wright is quick to point out that this is just a continuation of something that goes back to before the early days of European settlement in Saskatchewan.
“People have been involved in agricultural activities among First Nations communities for quite some time. How do we see the students responding? I think, with every group this age, there is a challenge in catching interest and in catching a perspective that says this is what they want to do for the future. This said, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food is very aware of opportunities for the Aboriginal community to provide future employees. We are looking for the best and the brightest to contribute to agriculture, from all walks of life!”
Already, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food is seeing an increased awareness of the agricultural potential among Aboriginal communities.
“We have been invited to join opportunities looking at the Lebret Farm, which is a Metis-managed farm. We see increased activities around irrigation, for example, and Aboriginal communities that are interested in moving themselves forward in agriculture. I see tremendous interest from the Aboriginal community and a lot of buy in. We need to nurture this interest.”
For more information, contact:
Scott Wright
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306)787-4661
Audrey Haines
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306)787-7141
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