Sandee Sez: Grads, there'll be obstacles, but keep on, keepin' on
- Sandra Ahenakew | July 29, 2014
Times they are changing: more and more Aboriginal students are completing high school and going onto University. Saskatchewan Indian Institute on Technology; First Nations University of Canada and Gabriel Dumont Institute have produced hundreds of graduates over the years and it becoming a common thing to hear about these students using their education to find jobs. Statistics Canada keeps highlighting the fact the Aboriginal people are the fastest and youngest sector of the Canadian population.
Cap and gown season arrived just before summer kicked off. Students and teachers are breathing a sigh of relief as their high school and post secondary educations come to a close. After years of hard work and dedication, families are celebrating the accomplishments of these determined students.
There was a time when the Indian Act stated that any "Indian" receiving a University degree would no longer be entitled to be registered as an Indian and would lose their "Indian status." Residential schools had a mandate to take the Indian out of the child but we have persevered. But...we still have a long way to go people. There are some folks out there who do not want to hire Aboriginal people...tapew!
Don't expect that you're going to find a job and start at the manager or director level either; if you are fortunate to get hired, it will likely be at an entry level position and you will have to work your way up the ladder. There are many stereotypes, myths and misconceptions that you are going to have to deal with in the work places; many people have never met First Nations people who have gone to University or have never actually worked with First Nations people. Take the opportunity to educate them (in a respectful way). At the end of the day we are all working toward similar goals to feed ourselves and our families.
I have worked at the same place for over a decade and I am always aware that I am First Nations. No matter how sick I might be (cold, flu or whatever), I will never miss work on a payday or the day after payday because I dont want people thinking I missed work because I was out partying. I thought my parents were being paranoid when they told me I was going to have to work twice as hard as everyone else because I was a First Nations woman. My folks were right.
Develop a strong work ethic; come to work on time and do the work assigned to you. There are many jobs that need to be filled and First Nations people can do the jobs believe in yourselves and your children. Living on social assistance is not living - it is existing. The reality is there is no money for anything extra; in fact, most times it's not enough money to pay rent and bills.
University is not the only thing out there. Think about technical institutes, trades, or community colleges. Want to be a barber or hairdresser? There is a school for you out there.
Graduates, you are about to begin real life!! There will be obstacles; there will be days when you wonder why you were so excited to leave high school. Remember, if you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so dont whine about your mistakes, learn from them. As the great Dr. Seuss once said, "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who'll decide where to go."
My last bit of advice: do what you love. You have the gift of time. Use it to do what you love. Believe anything is possible and then work like hell to make it happen. There is a Cree proverb that says, "Realize that we as human beings have been put on this earth for only a short time and that we must use this time to gain wisdom, knowledge, respect and the understanding for all human beings since we are all relatives." So be kind to each other and help each other because it is the right thing to do. Congratulations to all the graduates. Ekosi.
Keep your letters and emails coming! Send your questions or comments to: Sandee Sez c/o Eagle Feather News P.O. Box 924 ST Main Saskatoon, SKK 3M4 or email.