Ogimaawabiitong and Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong have partnered up in helping youth obtain employment. KCA and Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong partnered up to be able to offer 20 youth summer jobs in a variety of departments.
The Kenora Chiefs Advisory’s Youth Leadership & Employment Program allows youth from Treaty #3 to come together and engage in a unique employment experience and cultural exchange, helping them to develop leadership skills and share bonds with the community.
Youth aged 15 to 24 from KCA’s nine communities now have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings for 30 hours per week between July 3 and August 25, after completing their onboarding and training.
The youth were given the opportunity to explore the various departments within KCA and find a program that best fit their goals and interests.
Some of the placements this summer include:
– Assisting the Kenora Makwa Patrol with front-line patrols and in-office tasks,
– Supporting the Kenora Youth Hub with event planning, cultural activities and community outreach,
– Helping run summer programming with Niigaanning Bimaadiziwin Developmental Services,
– Maintaining, supporting equine programming at KCA’s Youth and Family Wellness Camp,
– Supporting youth engagement in land-based activities at KCA’s Youth and Family Wellness Camp,
– Coordination of health promotion, sports with KCA’s Health Promotion/Sports and Recreation team,
– Assisting in the development of cultural resources in the area with KCA’s Cultural Services team,
– Supporting the Lake of the Woods District Hospital’s Indigenous Relations Department,
The program will later culminate with a cultural retreat, including land-based learning from local Knowledge Keepers, equine-assisted learning with Ojibwe Spirit Ponies, storytelling from Elders and a variety of recreational activities like canoeing, sports and games.
Additional supports can also be provided through the program to help alleviate any barriers to entry into the workforce, including transportation, dependent care, as well as the purchase of appropriate clothing for outdoor programming.
We would like to say a big Miigwetch to Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong for their partnership on this initiative and for the support provided in order to provide opportunities to the youth. We look forward to continuing to work with them again in the future years and developing this program further.
Those interested in the Youth Leadership & Employment Program are asked to contact humanresources@www.kenorachiefs.org for further information and application requirements.
Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong works to support and promote training and employment opportunities for Anishinaabe people across Treaty #3 and provided KCA with the appropriate funding to host the program in 2023.
