Stepping Stones career fair for aboriginal youth

A career fair in Regina Wednesday offered indigenous youth an opportunity to check out potential employers.

Chase Pelletier and Josh Montana were among the students attending the fair. Both hope to join the RCMP.

They had a chance to speak to representatives of the RCMP to learn more about the job and how to prepare for it.

"They were very genuine and told us what we needed to do," Montana said. "Like be fit."

Montana said he hopes to further his education as well.

"Personally, I want to be [with the] RCMP," he said. "In college I'm probably going to take law and justice, or human rights. Something like that, that will help along the road and get me a further career."

Pelletier also has his eye on joining the RCMP.

"When I was little I always wanted to be in the RCMP," he said. "It was just a dream I had."

"Me also. I just wanted to help people, be there and also make a difference," Montana added.

The career fair featured a variety of options for young people to consider, spanning many professions.

Earl Greyeyes, a job coach with Construction Careers Regina, a part of the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, said good training can open many doors.

"With the right determination the challenges aren't really there," Greyeyes said. "Training is available throughout our organization at seven different locations around the province."

He added that a key element to many trades is meeting minimum age and education requirements.

"Education is a big thing and that's the one thing that we promote," he said. "Make sure they stay in school, get their Grade 12."

Depending on the trade, initial training programs run for seven to 10 weeks. He saidSIIT has courses for welding, carpentry, and many other jobs in a variety of construction trades.

"The kids want the good jobs," he said. "They understand that trades are a viable option in order to have a career."

The Stepping Stones career fair is an annual event. Organizers work with over 70 organizations and post-secondary institutions that have committed to recruiting First Nation, Mtis and Inuit people.