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ABORIGINAL INTERNS WELCOMED INTO BC PUBLIC
SERVICE |
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VICTORIA – The Province welcomed 15 Aboriginal youth to their new roles in the BC Public Service as part of the Aboriginal Youth Internship Program, Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Michael de Jong and Community Services Minister Ida Chong announced today.
The program was first announced on May 28, 2007 by Ministers de Jong and
Chong. The program fulfils a commitment identified in the 2006 speech from the
throne in the creation and implementation of the Aboriginal Youth Internship
Program.
Following the initial announcement, 80 Aboriginal youth from across
British Columbia applied to be a part of the program. This significant response
helps to ensure the program will continue in future years.
Successful applicants have been placed in nine different government
ministries for nine months of work experience, to be immediately followed by
three months of work experience in selected Aboriginal organizations. The
Ministry of Children and Family Development, in particular, recognized the
reciprocal benefits of this program and requested a further five interns,
bringing the program participation number from ten to 15.
The government engaged with the following First Nations and Métis organizations, communities and youth to help guide the development of the program: BC Assembly of First Nations; First Nations Summit; Union of BC Indian Chiefs; Métis Nation British Columbia; and the Unified Aboriginal Youth Collective as represented by the BC United Métis Youth Circle, Building Our Legacy Together, the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres - Provincial Aboriginal Youth Council, Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association, First Nations Youth Caucus and United Native Nations Youth Governance.
Information on
Interns
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Name |
Aboriginal Affiliation |
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Elaine Alec has been working in health, youth and
prevention programs for the past six years. |
Penticton Indian Band |
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Ayla Brown has completed two years toward her
degree in International Relations at the University of British Columbia and
has worked as a Youth Care Worker for Alberta’s Future Leaders Program. |
Heiltsuk
Nation and Nuu-cha-nulth Tribal Council |
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Carly Cunningham graduated from the University of Victoria with a bachelor of arts degree, majoring in Sociology within the Social Justice Concentration Program. |
Cree-Métis |
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Natasha Fountain has completed a bachelor of arts majoring in Archaeology at Simon Fraser University. |
Nooaitch Indian Band |
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Sara-Lynn Johnson is in her third year of the bachelor of
science, Psychology program at the University of Northern British Columbia. |
Esketemc First Nation, Shuswap Nation |
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Matthew Louie has worked in a variety of fields, including
tobacco control, treaty negotiations, band governance, housing, suicide
prevention, environmental protection, community development and youth
advocacy. |
Cowichan Tribes |
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Theresa Morris recently completed a Religious Studies
Program at Jiaotong University in Xi'an, China and her third year of a double
major in International Relations and Political Science at the University of
Northern British Columbia. |
Wet'suwet'en and T'lazten Nations |
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Ellen Newman is completing a bachelor of social work from
Ryerson University. |
Haida, Kwagiulth and Coast Salish Nations |
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Theresa Point is pursuing a career in music and Aboriginal
youth advocacy with the Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association. |
Sto:lo Nation |
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Jose Robinson has earned a degree in Business Finance from
Malaspina University-College. |
Ahousaht First Nation |
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Marie Sandy recently completed a bachelor of arts degree
with a major in History from the Thomson Rivers University. |
Secwepemc (Shuswap) from T'exelc (Williams Lake Indian
Band) |
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Don Tom worked on the Children’s Commission on Youth
Report and completed the First Nations Family Support Worker Program at
Camosun College. |
Saanich Nation, Tsartlip Band |
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Tresley Tourond-Bouvier is the Métis Nation British
Columbia Minister Responsible for Youth and has also held the position of
Minster Responsible for Métis Veterans Association – BC and member of the
Electoral Reform Committee and Governance Committee. |
Métis Nation BC |
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Carrielynn Victor has spent the last two years as a
monitor and supervisor for a fisheries program. |
Cheam First Nation |
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Krista Wilson possesses a diploma in Academic Studies from
the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology. |
Gitxsan and Cree Nations |
For more information on the program, visit the Province’s website at: www.bcpublicservice.ca/AboriginalYouthInternship/
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contact: |
Communications Director Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation 250 953-3211 250 213-3489 (cell) |
Communications Director Ministry of Community Services 250 953-3677 250 812-4012 (cell) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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