July 2008 IssuE

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School and Dignitaries Dedicate New Aboriginal Library

Thanks to a major industry donor and APEGGA’s mentoring program, Aboriginal students at St. Martha School in Calgary now have a library that celebrates their culture.

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A dedication ceremony May 29 at St. Martha School unveiled a new library for Aboriginal students in Grades K-9. SNC-Lavalin funded the library and Karen Sobel, a company vice-president, was there to celebrate the occasion and meet with staff and students.

Ms. Sobel spoke on the importance of industry encouraging young Aboriginal students to consider careers in engineering and the geosciences.

A plaque honoring the collaboration between the three stakeholders — SNC-Lavalin, APEGGA and the Calgary Board of Education — will remain as a permanent dedication. The school librarian purchased books from a Cochrane bookstore known for its extensive collection on Aboriginal subjects.

Also present were the principal of the school, representatives of the Calgary Board of Education and the United Way, school counsellors, the school librarian, Aboriginal students and staff. The morning opened with a Native American prayer read by two students, followed by a traditional Aboriginal dance performed by Grade 5 student Shaye Trudel.

Russ Baker, the Aboriginal liaison worker with the Calgary Board of Education, brought words of thanks. Principal Daniel Danis also expressed gratitude on behalf of the students and staff.
The ceremony was followed by a small reception provided by APEGGA.

“It was indeed heartwarming to see the pleasure of the students who will now be able to read about and study their rich cultural heritage,” said Arlene Lack, APEGGA’s mentoring coordinator.

APEGGA’s involvement with St. Martha School stems from the Association’s initiation of an Aboriginal mentoring program in the spring of 2007. Armed with a mandate from the Aboriginal Affairs Committee, APEGGA staff began arranging the program at the school through discussions with Lorna Crowshoe of the United Way, in conjunction with the school’s principal and its Aboriginal counsellor.

In June 2007, an Aboriginal APEGGA professional began visits with the 26 Aboriginal students at St. Martha School at the time. This year, 46 students there have identified themselves as Aboriginals.

From this group, the APEGGA professional — Matt Scheuring, P.Eng. — has been mentoring nine students who have a high interest and strong ability in the sciences. Two of these students have won science awards.

Further plans for this year include

• rolling out the St. Martha pilot to the adjacent Father Lacombe High School

• further development of an Aboriginal professional resource group in Calgary

• initiation of a similar pilot in an Edmonton elementary school with high Aboriginal population — using the services of another set of Aboriginal professionals, these ones from the Edmonton area.

In conjunction with the Aboriginal mentoring program for kindergarten to Grade 12, APEGGA plans a mentoring group for Aboriginal university students in engineering and geosciences at the two major Alberta universities. A proposal is under development to encourage cooperation among the Aboriginal student services offices at the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary, as well as APEGGA and industry.