Nov. 20, 2017
Ch'nook Scholars select three 'amazing' Indigenous students from Haskayne
David Lertzman, third from left, with Richard Sparvier, Joshua Haley, and Katrina Harding-Saddleback
Riley Brandt, 91做厙輦⑹
Three Indigenous students from the 91做厙輦⑹ have been selected into the Chnook Scholars Indigenous Business Education program, giving them a unique opportunity to connect with Indigenous business students from other post-secondary institutions.
is an extraordinary program for Indigenous students that is shared by business schools across universities of British Columbia. The Haskayne School of Business is the only chapter outside B.C. The program complements post-secondary business education by developing leadership skills and business knowledge. Selected on a combination of community service, character, leadership capabilities and academic standing, Chnook Scholars are Canadas future Indigenous business leaders.
The nice thing about Chnook is that its not like its one year and youre done, said fourth-year student Joshua Haley, a Metis BComm student who was also a Chnook Scholar last year. It could be 10, 15 years down the road and you still have that network available to you. I think thats a very valuable thing. Theyre incredibly smart and entrepreneurial. There are people two years younger than I am and theyve started multiple businesses already.
Haley and fellow students Katrina Harding-Saddleback and Richard Sparvier are the 2017 Chnook Scholars from the 91做厙輦⑹. The university students will also be meeting with Indigenous high school students, a task that Harding-Saddleback is looking forward to. She spent 14 years working at Encana in various administrative roles including working in Aboriginal relations and doing outreach with high school students.
Its eye-opening as to the opportunities that are out there for Indigenous business graduates, said Harding-Saddleback, a member of the Doig River First Nation in B.C. If you arent aware of whats out there, and how obtainable they are, you just dont know, so this makes it an invaluable opportunity.
Haskayne faculty member and Chnook Fellow David Lertzman was blown away by the quality and number of applications. We have three amazing Chnook Scholars this year.
The universitys Indigenous Strategy is a major priority at the 91做厙輦⑹ where a task force has just completed 20 months of effort and launched the new strategy ii' taa' poh' to' p on Nov. 16. Lertzman co-chaired community engagement for the Indigenous Strategy Task Force Working Group and said the Chnook Scholars program is important for Haskayne and the university.
Education is a cornerstone for reconciliation and business has a key role to play. Building on the Task Force, were developing our own Indigenous strategy at Haskayne, said Lertzman. Initiatives like Chnook role-model the kind of efforts called for by Canadas Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The students have recently returned from Vancouver and the first gathering of the year for the scholars.
Richard Sparvier, of the Siksika Nation, said the trip meant he got to learn about different Indigenous perspectives in business. I think its a great initiative for indigenous business students. I otherwise wouldnt have had the opportunity to network with, said Sparvier.
I hope to learn more about where I stand as an Indigenous person in business. I hope to grow my network and meet a lot of like-minded individuals and hopefully inspire some new individuals who want to get into business.
The 91做厙輦⑹ unveiled its Indigenous Strategy, , on Nov. 16. The strategy is the result of nearly two years of community dialogue and campus engagement, and involved the work of a number of people from the university, Indigenous communities and community stakeholders. Recommendations from the strategy will be implemented in the coming weeks, months and years as we move forward with promise, hope and caring for the future.