Business Club pilot project a hit at One Arrow
- EFN Staff | June 04, 2014
Students at the One Arrow First Nation are learning all about business, thanks to a pilot project in the form of a Business Club.
The Almightyvoice Education Centre Business Club is a pilot project in partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council, which began in February.
"We have many goals and objectives we hope to achieve by years end," explains Joe Taylor, the Business Club Co-ordinator. "We strive to expose the students to Aboriginal success stories both in business and personal life experiences. Learning about financial literacy, teaching some basic small business best practices, encouraging the students to explore business opportunities and building business plans to support these ideas, are but a few of the elements of this project. All of the above are taught in a positive and learning environment."
The students have had presentations from Kendell Netmaker of Neechie Gear, Mike Scott of "Sober is Sexi," and James Lathlin of "Scared Straight."
"These gentlemen had very inspiring and motivational messages that they shared with the students," says Taylor.
The students have also had the opportunity to visit Aboriginal-owned and managed companies. They spent a day at that the Office of the Treaty Commissioner where Milton Tootoosis gave a presentation on the history of treaties, and the history of Aboriginal entrepreneurial success. The students also spent a morning with Affinity Credit Union in Rosthern, where financial literacy, credit establishment, and credit card perils were discussed.
As a school year finale, the students hosted a Business Plan/Life Plan Pitch Competition. Here the students had the chance to pitch their business and life plans to a panel of judges with some great prizes to be won. The judges, Dave McTaggart of Affinity Credit Union, Michelle Blackmon from Saskatoon Tribal Council, and Brandie Nolan from One Arrow First Nation, gave some invaluable, positive, and honest criticism to all of the participating students.
"They were very impressed with the students work and future plans," says Taylor.
The Business Club will run until December of this year.