SMART | work 


#YouthCEO opens the door to opportunity for students Continued from page 1


Senator Sinclair addresses students at #YouthCEO “Tese young people have an opportunity to make a great


living for themselves, they have access to summer jobs, bursaries, scholarships, and get into the door of working with some of the biggest companies that have their head offices here in Manitoba through the Business Council of Manitoba.” Marileen Bartlett, Executive Director at CAHRD, has been


a driving force in creating opportunities for indigenous youth in Manitoba for many years and is says the importance of the relationship they have with the Business Council of Manitoba can’t be understated. “It’s so important and I think it just takes us to another


level,” Bartlett says. “We’ve worked with some of these companies before and just having them here and giving the students this kind of access will open a lot of doors for both the students, and the companies that are here.” Students in attendance included young people from across


Winnipeg, four Northern communities, and adult education students from CAHRD. With Manitoba being one of the fastest growing popula-


tions including indigenous and new Canadians, the Business Council of Manitoba launched the #YouthCEO initiative in the summer of 2017 to provide Indigenous and new Cana- dian youth with exposure to the different job opportunities


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Marileen Bartlett and Kevin Chief speaking at #YouthCEO.


that exist within the business community. Twenty students were matched with 13 member companies which helped young people get their foot in the door. Kelsey Lands is one of those young people who have ben-


efitted from the initiative and spoke at the event. Lands was a #YouthCEO participant and internship recipient from last summer, and says the event opened doors she never thought would be possible. “It was an experience I will never forget,” Lands said as


she addressed the students. “Te program opened doors to different career paths available and has led me to a full-time job at Payworks, who are one of the companies at this event.” Joining Payworks were CEO’s and representatives from


New Flyer Industries, True North Sports and Entertain- ment, Wawanesa Insurance, Vonviron, Duha Group, and Bank of Montreal. Senator Murray Sinclair was the guest speaker at the


event. You could hear a pin drop while he addressed the students who had their eyes glued and ears open to every word Senator Sinclair said. In an address that talked about the importance of the opportunity the CEO’s were giving these young people, he also challenged the CEO’s about continuing what they’ve started with this event. "For these young people, that's the best thing to happen


Anishinaabe Bimishimo Continued from page 1


bothered me that a native product was not made locally. My mom Natalie Foidart chal- lenged me to do something about it so I did, and I decided to make them myself.” The jingle dress and dances are an in-


digenous tradition that is believed to bring healing and prayer to people who are ill. Te jingle count on a child's dress can range from 100 to 140, and for a woman's size the amount varies depending on the design of the dress but could easily reach 300 to 400. With the jingle cones being sold for close to $40 for 100 jingles in stores, McKinney wanted to offer more affordable jingle cones, that were most importantly, authentic. After doing some research, McKinney was


unable to find another company making jin- gle cones or lids in Canada. Now, what began as an idea, quickly turned into a business plan, and a year later McKinney had started Anishinaabe Bimishimo Corporation, which is Ojibway for First Nations People Dancing. After renting space in a shop in Somerset, McKinney began designing the emblem that are now featured on each hand-rolled cone. Te emblem is something that has special meaning to McKinney. “The outer circle represents the world


around us in full circle, and the inner circle is a reminder of the full circle within ourselves. Te tipi symbolizes home, family, where the heart is and the open tipi door welcomes ideas, hope, dreams, dance and people. Te medicine wheel is a reminder to follow and never forget the sacred teachings. Feathers are used in prayer, for smudging, and in rega- lia. Anishinaabe Bimishimo are written on. It means A First Nation person dancing by.” Te Grade 12 student says it’s been chal-


lenging keeping up with business while at- tending school, but says she has found a way to make it work. “It’s definitely not easy going to school and having a business and trying to fit it all in somehow,” admits McKinney. “Some nights are longer than others but my mom helps out a lot which is great.” Te long nights are worth it for McKinney,


who ultimately wants to bring the traditional cones back to the indigenous people. “Te importance for me in creating these


cones and lids was to bring this sacred object back to the indigenous people,” adds McKin- ney. “It is important to me that this sacred product should be made authentically in Turtle Island.” With her jingle cones and lids being sold


The emblem on the cones have special meaning


online and at a few different retail stores, business has continued to increase. Stores that have been showcasing McKinney’s products on a trial basis have had to order more. As the business grows, McKinney would like to eventually be able to help out her own community. “Te goal of my business is to bring this


product back to being made locally and in return to be able to also create local jobs,” say McKinney, who’d like to attend the University of Alberta to obtain her Bachelor of Education after she graduates. “Ultimately, I would love to be able to move my business to my reserve, Swan Lake First Nation and to be able to pro- vide jobs to community members one day.”


Students taking part in #YouthCEO event.


to them," Sinclair said. "Now they can feel they can belong, and they should belong,” Sinclair says. "Te the challenge we're going to place to these CEOs is once you open the door, how will you let them in? And when you let them in, what are you going to do to help them? You have to recognize what the new chemistry combination is going to be." For Chief, Senator Sinclair's message to Manitoba’s youth


was extremely important for the students to realize that anything is possible. “I think having Senator Sinclair come and address us


and address the event as somebody who is internationally known, and has done some of the most important work that our country has seen, it reminds all these young people that we can be proud of who we are and where we’re from.” Students who began the day a bit shy, were asking many


questions by the time the event came to a close. For Chief, the goal of the event is simple. “Te number one thing I want them to get out of this is that


they’re inspired, that they understand that there are a ton of people that want them to do well,” says Chief. "We want them to know that if they work hard, are willing


to learn, and if they show up and they’re reliable, that these companies will do everything they can to ensure that they’re maximizing the potential to get a great job in the future.”


Emilie McKinney wearing an authentic jingle dress


2 Smart Biz


www.smartbizwpg.com


April 2018


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