LAC LA BICHE - A unique summer student program offered by the Métis Nation of Alberta Region 1 offered a cohort of young adults the chance to learn important life skills, while also instilling a sense and knowledge of Indigenous culture.
Grace Anne Grant of Métis Nation of Alberta Region 1 is a community resource coordinator for the program that began in June and will wrap up at the end of August. She stated that out of the five participants in the 2023 program, three of them are either returning or just about to start college for the first time this fall.
“I believe this training is effective in preparing students to enter multiple fields of work,” Grant told Lakeland This Week. “Most importantly, they strengthen interpersonal skills by learning how to communicate and solve problems as they go along.”
During their time in the Summer Student Program, which takes place at the Metis Nation of Alberta office in Lac La Biche, students participated in a variety of activities designed to prepare them for future employment, such as painting the houses of local seniors, lawn care, moving items such as furniture, cleaning, as well as cooking and volunteering to assist in the organization of events.
“This was an amazing year for the program,” Grant continued. “The students were able to find jobs mowing lawns for elders in their communities as well as seniors around Lac La Biche County.”
And for those whose career aspirations are more suited toward clerical work, there are also training modules that teach office related skills such as reception, filing papers, and similar tasks.
While much emphasis is placed on getting students job ready, there is also a component of the program that focuses on outdoor and wilderness survival skills. Over the past three months, the participants learned how to be more aware of bears and received certification in remote wilderness safety and standard First Aid.
Another very prominent feature of the program is the importance placed on acquiring traditional skills linked to Indigenous culture and heritage, such as medicine and berry picking, making bannock and jam, and learning about natural plant dyes.
“The idea is to teach skills and life lessons in an environment where they are comfortable to learn and make mistakes during the process,” Grant said. “Over the duration of the program, we’ve discussed different aspects of our culture including hide tanning, various traditional medicines, Bannock making, but most importantly, listening to the stories our elders and seniors love to share.”
