A compass pointing to career

Indigenous Career Fair

Shé:kon/hello, everyone! I hope you’re having a great Family Day and reading week (for those of you on Reading Week!) #JoyatUofT was a success and it was amazing to see all of the things that brought you joy both on and off-campus! Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the Indigenous Career Fair, hosted by First Nations House at the Multi-Faith Centre, which allowed me to explore part-time and summer career options, as well as other long-term options available within various fields. I had the chance to talk with a few prospective employers, which I’ll detail below. (Also, please note that while these positions are in Indigenous environments/contexts, you do not necessarily have to be Indigenous to apply.) About 85,000 Indigenous people reside in the City of Toronto, which constitutes the largest n number of Indigenous peoples in Canada in an urban context. The Aboriginal Peacekeeping Unit was created in order to bridge the gap between Indigenous peoples and police and ensure access to services that cater to specific needs and are culturally sensitive and aware. There are various positions within the APU which offers a chance to connect underserved and often over-policed marginalized groups. (Click here for more information on the Aboriginal Peacekeeping Unit) Toronto Police Service members with Aboriginal Peacekeeping Unit Native Child and Family Services are also offering a variety of summer positions working with Indigenous children. Their mission statement is: “Native Child and Family Services of Toronto is an Indigenous, community controlled multi-service agency. Our mission is to provide support, ensure safety and enhance the quality of life for Indigenous families, children, and youth within the greater Toronto area. Our agency works within a holistic framework, which builds on individual and family strengths, and engages clients as partners in identifying issues and their solutions.” Some of the positions they offer are summer camp counsellor, camp administrative coordinator, drivers and lifeguards. Native and Child Family Services banner   The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres was formed in 1971 in response to the needs of urban Indigenous peoples, many of whom had relocated from reserves to urban centres. They seek to improve and positive transform lives of Indigenous people and oversee the operations of 28 Friendship Centres. They have a variety of positions available, which I will post a link to below. (Click here to see careers offered by OFIFC) There is also Our Children's Medicine, which removes the traditional resume/interview approach and instead seeks to eliminate traditional economic and regional barriers to connect job-seekers with employers. They work directly with clients to assist with the application process and ensure their applications are read by recruiters and can offer services and referrals to training and employment offices.This is a great opportunity for those who may feel they are under-skilled or have difficulties forming a resume with little job experience. For more information: (Click here to visit Our Children’s Medicine) Whether you are seeking part-time employment or simply job experience within your field, these are some options to help obtain meaningful employment and hopefully improve the lives of Indigenous peoples across Canada. As an Indigenous student, the opportunity to connect with employers has me thinking about networking and internship that may lead to a permanent position when I am finished with school. I urge you to attend career fairs and networking opportunities so that you can have the chance to think about your future after graduation! Have a great reading week!

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