Building a Prosperous Future: An education investment
in aboriginal students
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Charlie Coffey
Executive Vice President
Government & Community Affairs
RBC Financial Group
Chinook Lodge Aboriginal Resource
Centre
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Calgary, Alberta
Monday, September 23, 2002
Irene,
thank you for the warm introduction…and for the invitation
to participate in today's first anniversary celebration
of the Chinook Lodge Aboriginal Resource Centre. I'm delighted
to be here - in Blackfoot Territory - and to be speaking
to you about the all-important investment in post-secondary
education - or what I often refer to as building a prosperous
future.
However
before we get started, I would like to single out another
anniversary, as yesterday, September 22, 2002, marked the
125th anniversary of the signing of Treaty Number 7. I understand
the Siksika Nation hosted a weeklong series of commemorative
events at Blackfoot Crossing where the Treaty document was
on display. The making of Treaty Number 7 was a milestone
event in western Canadian history. "For the first time,
the 50,000 square miles of virgin prairie and foothills,
controlled by the Nation, were opened to the settlers' plow.
The names of those involved in Treaty Number 7 are legendary:
names such as Crowfoot, Red Crow, Bull Head, Bear's Paw,
Sitting on an Eagle Tail, Col. James F. MacLeod and many
others."
So this afternoon, there's much reason to celebrate in Calgary…and
about Calgary. Just last week, Advanced Technology Business
leaders at the Calgary TechAction Town Hall meeting said,
"Calgary has established itself as a globally advanced
technology center." John Maduri, of TELUS, stated,
"Calgary is characterized by its collaborative spirit.
Overall, this city has what it takes to make it and is poised
for growth and prosperity." I was particularly interested
in this event because of its formula for prosperity message
and its focus on education/training to manage challenges
in this city's high-tech sector.
The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) immediately
came to mind in terms of innovation and relevant, skill-oriented
education. The record speaks for itself…from awarding
significant dollars in scholarships/bursaries and staging
the largest fundraising campaign by a technical institute
in Canada, to amazing 2001 stats: "96% of graduates
were employed within nine months; 79% employed in training
related careers; 93% of graduates are satisfied with their
educational experience at SAIT and 97% of employers are
satisfied with the quality of SAIT's graduates", it's
clear that an investment in SAIT is sound education business.
And
SAIT knows better than to go it alone - it makes partnerships
- aboriginal partnerships a priority. First Nations Employment/Training
Centre, the Indian Resource Council of Canada, Little Red
River Cree First Nation, Maskwachees Cultural College, Blood
Tribe, Louis Bull Band, Metis Nation of Alberta Zone III,
Samson Cree Nation, Siksika Nation and Stoney Tribe, know
what I mean…as does the Calgary Aboriginal Post-Secondary
Council, the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Provincial Network,
the Calgary Aboriginal Information Exchange, the Calgary
Aboriginal Professional Association and of course, the Saskatchewan
Indian Institute of Technologies. Talk about leadership
at work when it comes to education and training…
There's a critically important and timely trend in Canada's post
secondary institutions (with partners in government, the
private sector and community organizations) to put active
support mechanisms in place for aboriginal students - to
help build a more civic society - and a more prosperous
future. "53% of the Aboriginal population in Canada
is under the age 25. The aboriginal labour force is now
younger than ever before. Aboriginal people will require
more training, education, and work experience, to prepare
them for future employment opportunities that increasingly
require highly skilled individuals as part of the knowledge
economy."
And access to education and training is key, as access is
more than offering programs and training facilities. Access
is providing fair and equitable opportunities for young
aboriginal students in Calgary, in Alberta and in Canada.
However, it's a two way street. It takes some time and energy
to apply for funding (no what the source), not to mention
scholarships and bursaries. Apparently many scholarships
and bursaries for aboriginal students go unclaimed, as they're
aren't sufficient applications!
When I look around the Chinook Lodge Aboriginal Resource Centre,
I think about opportunities for aboriginal "learners
and partners". I especially think about TransCanada
and now BP Canada Energy; their support of this Centre -
their investment in education and aboriginal students -
is also nothing less than leadership at work…
Viola Tanner-McLure mentioned that the Chinook Centre sign was
designed using a replica petroglyph from Writing-on-Stone
Provincial Park - one that represents transformation…that
Chinook Lodge is a place to help aboriginal students make
the transformation into the workplace as an accredited individual.
I'm delighted to see that the Lodge also incorporates elements
of aboriginal culture, with circular and flowing design
based on the medicine wheel concept.
I'm also impressed with the offices for the First Nations Student
Association, the various places to study and aboriginal
resource information about awards, scholarships and bursaries.
The Elders' area is a marvelous concept - one that enables
interaction with students and staff alike in a cultural
and supportive manner. I'm sure the Welcome Circles are
a great success and that the cultural programs, including
talking/healing circles and workshops on the medicine wheel
are equally popular.
I can only echo the words of Irene Lewis, "SAIT is committed
to providing a learning environment of the highest quality…nearly
90% of the Aboriginal programs SAIT delivers are delivered
directly in the community. With the establishment of Chinook
Lodge, we hope that aboriginal learners will be encouraged
to come and finish their education on SAIT's campus."
Because the future lies with our youth, RBC Financial Group is also
committed to ensuring that Canada's young people have opportunities
to grow, learn and contribute to their communities. We strongly
support a range of initiatives with a focus on youth and
education…
For the eighth consecutive year, five aboriginal students attending
Canadian universities and colleges have been recognized
through RBC's Native Student Awards Program. Each student
receives an annual scholarship of $4,000 re educational
expenses for a maximum of four years at university or two
years at college. Inuit and Métis students, as well
as status or non-status aboriginal Canadians are eligible
to apply. An independent committee of academics from the
aboriginal community reviews all applications and makes
its final selection of winners based on each student's personal
and academic achievements, as well as individual financial
need. In addition, recipients who indicate an interest in
pursuing a career in the financial services industry are
considered for summer and post-graduate employment opportunities
at RBC Financial Group. We're pleased to see that Cheryle
Chagnon is here today, one of our 1996/97 recipients, and
to hear that she's now working with the National Aboriginal
Health Organization.
In addition to the Native Student Awards Program, RBC also
supports aboriginal students in Alberta through initiatives
and organizations, including:
- The
RBC Royal Eagle Award. Since 1998, the RBC Foundation
has granted awards in the amount of $1,000 annually to
an aboriginal student completing an undergraduate degree
at the University of Calgary. Aboriginal students can
apply for the award through the Native Centre and selection
is based strictly on academic merit. The recipient is
also recognized on a crystal sculpted Eagle trophy, to
mark the significant accomplishments of individuals within
the aboriginal community;
-
The
RBC Aboriginal Stay-in-School Program. RBC offers aboriginal
high school students a chance to earn and learn during
the summer. We believe that the more young people know
about the business world, the more motivated they will
be to obtain the education required to succeed in the
workplace.
- SAIT,
the Native Friendship Centres, the Institute for the Advancement
of Aboriginal Women…and CAREERS: The Next Generation
Foundation - hands-on learning for Alberta's high school
students.
At RBC, we believe that our success as a company is connected to
investing in the economic and social well-being of our community
and our country. It's something we know we must do as an
essential part of our relationships with our stakeholders,
and as a strategic investment in the future prosperity of
our society. Investing in post-secondary education for aboriginal
students - for all Canadians - is one of the most important
investments RBC Financial Group will ever make in communities
across the country.
Thank you for inviting my RBC colleagues, Keith MacDonald, Doug
Bourque, Helena Gottschling, Wafa Kadri, not to mention
a former banker who shares the Coffey name (my brother Mike)
and me, to share in this exciting event. We're proud to
be here.
Finally, as I look around the room, I know our collective investment
in aboriginal students is paying off in huge dividends.
There are many success stories here today. Congratulations
to the Chinook Centre on this first anniversary - to Irene
Lewis, Dean Patrick Martens and the entire SAIT team for
leading the way. Special thanks to Viola Tanner-McLure for
coordinating this event - well done!
And to every "education investor" in the room, let's
help get more investors on side. To every graduate student
in the room, tell your story to your friends - spread the
news about the value of a post secondary education and encourage
them to apply for scholarships, awards and bursaries. And
to every aboriginal student in this room, make the most
of the Chinook Lodge Aboriginal Resource Centre - invest
in yourself and in your prosperous future!
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