- Home
- Networks
- Topics
- Blogs
- Co-op Blogs
- Arts and Social Sciences Co-op Blog
- Beedie School of Business Co-op Blog
- Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology Co-op Blog
- Communication Co-op Blog
- Computing Science Co-op Blog
- Contemporary Arts Co-op Blog
- Engineering Co-op Blog
- Environment Co-op Blog
- Health Sciences Co-op Blog
- Interactive Arts & Technology Co-op Blog
- MSE Co-op Blog
- Science Co-op Blog
- Sustainable Energy Engineering Co-op Blog
- Communique
- ENGAGE
- Peer Education
- Co-op Blogs
- Galleries
- Learn
- Indigenous
- EAL/ESL
- iBelong
Indigneous Peoples Career Stories

Indigneous Peoples Career Stories
By: Christina Coolidge
I don’t know how many times I have asked myself what I want to be when I grow up. I asked myself when I was five and I am still asking myself that question. To be honest, I still don’t know the answer. As a communications major, I have many options. There are many routes I could choose and I know that very few people ever really end up in careers for which they had originally gone to school. I feel ill prepared for what may come after graduation. I have experienced enough life to know that our plans rarely work out exactly as we had imagined and it is better to be prepared for contingency plans and surprises, hopefully pleasant ones.
I am a woman who identifies as First Nation and it is important to me that part of this identity be included, in some way, in my future career choice. I don’t know if that means my work will include Indigenous communities or simply that my ancestral heritage be honoured and valued as a part of my life experience.
SFU’s Career Services Department has identified the value of Indigenous students, both as individuals and as a resource for employers. Indigenous Peoples Career Stories is an event hosted by Career Services where they bring stories of Indigenous people that have been through the experience of thinking, seeking, learning, failing and succeeding in their search for a satisfying career. Panelists share their stories and offer insights to those of us who will soon begin our own journeys of finding a fulfilling way to use our degrees.
This year our panelists include; Miranda Stirling; a woman who loves her job at New Relationship Trust, where she is currently the Capacity and Events Manager. She takes care of the Governance and Scholarship Grants and organizes the Young Entrepreneurs Symposium as well as other events. Gerald Bent is an alumnus of SFU. He is currently employed with Correctional Services Canada where he works toward Aboriginal offender rehabilitation and treatment. Peter Eppinga, MD is the CEO and President of Eppinga Family Real Estate Company, that manages and assists low-income families, as well as working on a mobile diabetes clinic as an epidemiologist and configuring health surveys. Crystal Morris is the Aboriginal Education Coordinator for UBC. Her primary role is with the UBC Youth Circle and UBC Learning Circle.
This is just a brief introduction to our panel this year. I am especially looking forward to hearing from such a diverse group of people, whom I am sure have experienced a little of everything between them. It is important to me that many of them have incorporated their Indigenous background into their work life; and that they have felt compelled to share their stories as Indigenous peoples with the hope of helping to guide those of us who will be entering the work force in the future.
This event is an excellent resource and I plan on soaking every little tid-bit of information that is offered to me. Many of the employers that will be attending the event will be present specifically recruiting Indigenous students, as they have recognized that ours is the fastest growing population and as a resource, we are extremely valuable. I will share more about these employers in my next blog.
I have discovered that learning from others, is the greatest way to avoid making mistakes; and listening to others with the intention to truly understand, is an important way to obtain a deeper education. This event will provide information that is invaluable to me and to many others and I do hope you will join us in celebrating Indigenous Peoples Career Stories.
Click here for more information or to register.
Further Reading:
- Indigenous Bio: Beverly PITAWANAKWAT
- Indigenous Story: Kelvin Redvers
- Indigenous Career Story: Corey Dekker
Christina Coolidge is currently attending SFU as a Communications Major. She is the Indigenous Program Researcher with the Career Services department. Christina is a member of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation and her matrilineal ancestry includes Cree and Scottish. She hopes to help build a bridge between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities in order to better understand one another and to live together in a spirit of unity.
Posted on February 04, 2013
Submitted by cmaxson on Mon, 2013-02-04 01:04 by cmaxson
- cmaxson's blog
- Login to post comments
- 26239 reads
RELATED TOPICS
|
|
|
|
|
|
SEARCH THE OLC
Login
OUR TWEETS
Today's Top
![]() |
Student Spotlight Eleanor Li: 2012 SFU Co-op Student of the Year [22] |
![]() |
Event Summaries Highlights from the “Preparing for a Government of Canada Interview” Webinar [20] |
![]() |
Career Peers Know Yourself To Discover Your Career [20] |
![]() |
Career Services How Social Media Affects Your Chance of Getting Hired [14] |
![]() |
Top Tip Lists 8 Interview Tips For Impressing a Hiring Manager [13] |
Interviews 10 Tips on Answering Interview Questions Effectively [12] |
|
Volunteering Alumni Spotlight: Chris Lo [11] |
|
Indigenous Indigenous Stories: John Burrows, Professor of Law at the University of Minnesota & Author [7] |
|
Workplace Success Co-op Employer's Perspective: Working with Co-op Students [6] |
|
Indigenous Career Resources NENAS: North East Native Advancing Society [6] |
[Blog] Life Experience Just Like Bunko: It's Not About You [1] |
|
[Story] Interviews Preparation = Successful Interview! [1] |
|
[Story] Interviews Acing Phone Interviews [1] |
|
[Story] Career Exploration We Are All Canucks: Dreams Come True [1] |
|
[Story] Interviews The Dirty Dozen Interview Questions (Part I) [1] |
7 seconds
From Forbes Magazine.
You have 7 seconds to make a first impression:
...
You're Welcome!
Just wanted to say a big "you're welcome!"
I think though, that we also owe you a big thank-you for all of your fantastic...
There but for the grace of
There but for the grace of God go I, reoccurs for me in periodically and I smile warmly and am grateful.
Thank you for your...
Uhoh, now you've sent us down
Uhoh, now you've sent us down a black hole of Youtube Conan clips......
Our failures define us
Conan's quote is incredibly profound..but not quite as profound as his "String Dance."