Siksika job fair fosters stronger ties

Miriam Ostermann
Times Associate Editor

 

As last week’s Career and Employment Expo in Siksika drew a record-breaking number of vendors and attendees in recent years, the event appealed to the younger generation – the nation’s powerhouse – and elevated aspirations of collaboration with surrounding communities, greater independency, and encouraging future propitious careers.
Portrayed as one of Wheatland County’s largest career fairs, nearly 50 vendors attended the event. Despite the availability of information on possible job opportunity while facing an aching economy, members of the Siksika Nation expect the event will have a catalytic effect, with intentions of addressing social issues in the future.
“Our people need to get into careers, start looking at who they are as individuals, and we’re working towards where our people can be independent versus being on the welfare system,” said Daniel Stimson, manager with the Siksika Employment and Training Services. “We want to break that chain from residential schools and what happened to our First Nation members, because from yesteryears to now it has a snowball effect and this is why we’re working hard… to provide events like this.”
Understanding that the youths represent roughly 60 per cent of the Siksika Nation’s population, Stimson said he’s already seen an increase in the number of the younger generation graduating from high school, college, and universities. Siksika Employment and Training Services works together with various agencies including departments of education, public works, housing, justice, and family services. By offering events like the job fair, Stimson and his team hope it will instill independence among the First Nation youth and fill vital positions currently in abundance such as doctors, nurses and engineers.
However, to achieve a greater success rate, the Siksika Nation is working towards building stronger relationships with the Town of Strathmore and Wheatland County. Among the booths at the career fair, which included Siksika Income Support, Siksika Public Works, and Litipaay Tapi Yoosiini – a cultural and essential skills program – the Wheatland County office, the Strathmore Chamber of Commerce, Strathmore-based McBride Career Group, and the Strathmore Overnight Shelter were also in attendance.
“The bridge has to be built, and it has to work where we have that mutual respect,” said Stimson. “Hopefully that relationship will be build. I think there’s a lot of room for people to work with each other. We want to be a part of the solution not a problem.”
Richard Rodgers, who helped organize the event, is aware of numerous resources available in Siksika. He’s been working together with the nation to build collaboration between the communities.
“They have a great mental health unit, they have emergency services that if a house burns down they respond instantly, they have a high network of psychologists, mental health workers, great EMS emergency services, and fire department,” said Rodgers. “There are so many things, that it would help the county and the town, that if you build those relationships, then we can help each other. There’s a shortfall within any of those areas.”
The Career and Employment Expo ran alongside the Community Wellness Symposium, and while the job fair resulted in a healthy turnout, Rodgers expects next year’s event to be larger with even greater networking opportunities.