Aboriginal youth Aiming Higher at Nipissing University

North Bay, ON, February 24, 2009

Lorne Cardinal, of Corner Gas fame, will be helping Aboriginal youth set their sites high at Nipissing University on February 26 as part of a new outreach project named Aiming Higher.Aiming Higher focuses on engaging Aboriginal high school students to explore career options by providing specialized support and information. More than 100 students in grades 10 – 12 are expected to attend the program at Nipissing. Students are attending from the following First Nation communities: Moose Cree of Moose Factory, Ontario; Eagle Village First Nation of Kipawa, Quebec; and Nbisiing Secondary School of Nipissing First Nation located near North Bay, Ontario.

The two-day event includes workshop sessions that present career options and engage students in discussions about making a career path based on their interests. The workshops will be offered by a panel of Aboriginal celebrities and professionals, including: Cardinal; Jennifer Podemski, an award winning, Gemini nominated actress and creative producer; Waneek Horn-Miller, Canadian Olympic water polo athlete; Derek Chum, president of Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto; DerRic Starlight, master puppeteer and comedian; Leemai Lafontaine, songwriter, producer, artist and Tae Kwon Do black belt; and Don Burnstick, comedian, playwright. Students will also sit in on selected lectures and labs at Nipissing to get a glimpse of life at Nipissing University.

“We want aboriginal youth to start thinking about post-secondary education and show them that they can succeed here,” said Doug Dokis, event organizer and Aboriginal Services and Programs Administrator at Nipissing. “Drop out rates continue to be high for young First Nations people. With events like this, we can create opportunities for them to start thinking about post-secondary education, and introduce them to individuals from their own communities who have been successful at university.”