Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative supports young First Nation entrepreneurs develop business plans
Former PM launches program for aboriginal youth
Steve Wadden - Cape Breton Post
Sydney Academy principal Kevin Deveaux, centre, looks on as a partnership agreement is signed to launch the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program at Sydney Academy on Wednesday. Partners include, from left, Ray Meredith of RBC, former Prime...
Published on May 22, 2013 - By Nancy King - Cape Breton Post
SYDNEY - Jody Paul hopes to parlay her interest in fashion into owning and operating her own clothing store.
Since February, the Grade 11 student from Membertou has been a part of the Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program at Sydney Academy. The program aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship among aboriginal youth was officially launched at the school Wednesday by former prime minister Paul Martin.
The Aboriginal Youth Entrepreneurship Program is a partnership of the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative, Membertou First Nation and the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board. The program was supported by a $300,000 contribution from RBC Foundation.
"I think it's such an honour that he created this and he's here and that everyone is together here, and I really enjoy the program that we're in," Paul said.
She noted that the students are taking part in a business plan competition and she believes what they have already learned from their involvement in the program has helped them develop their plans. Showing that she already has some sharp business acumen, she didn't want to disclose which clothing franchise she wants to pursue.
"I want to open up a franchise in Membertou," Paul said. "What would be unique about it is they don't have it around here, nor Halifax, I think the closest one would be in Toronto."
Martin said Sydney Academy was a natural fit for the program, noting Cape Breton University has focused on aboriginal business education and the success that the Membertou band has had in developing various business ventures. Sydney Academy is the first school in Nova Scotia to offer the program.
"To be able to bring this course into Sydney Academy with the Membertou band, the Membertou community participating the way they are, and they are such a successful community and also to have Cape Breton University here with their focus on aboriginal business education at the university level, this is a natural, and I feel very good about it," Martin said.
He believes there is an opportunity here to build something that could serve as an example for the rest of Atlantic Canada and even beyond. The intention is to expand the program wherever there is a large enough First Nations community to sustain it.
Aboriginal youth is the fastest growing segment of Canada's population. The dropout rate for aboriginal youth is much higher than for the general population, which Martin partially attributed to underfunding by the federal government. Engaging those youth and listening to their ideas is key to changing that, he said.
"We really have to got to teach within a context of a person's culture, tradition and their understanding and when you do that what you see is a great improvement in high school completion rates for aboriginal Canadians," Martin said.
Membertou Chief Terry Paul said the band viewed bringing the program to Sydney Academy as being so important that they were considering putting in the funds necessary to support it had RBC Foundation not come on board.
"In our community, we have a lot of developments happening at Membertou, we're going to need these youth to be able to run these businesses when we retire, even my position," he said. "I won't be around forever. I've been around for 20 years already. It's time to look at that."
The Sydney tar ponds remediation, which set aside work to be bid upon by only aboriginal companies, showed that they are capable of doing the same quality work as other company if given a chance, Paul said.
"Like they say, proof is in the pudding, well proof is in the ponds," he said.
Fred Tilley, a member of the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board, acknowledged the work of the students in the program.
"It was evident to me this morning in listening to your business ideas that the program is really sparking a passion for you in business," Tilley said. "The diversity of ideas that the students had and their passion for those ideas was a true testament I think to this program and also to the leadership that's being shown here at the school and in the classroom."
Martin also lauded the work of Sydney Academy principal Kevin Deveaux and teacher Ryan MacPherson.