Project Pathfinder gives Aboriginal youth a taste of college life

 
(l-r) Storm Mallinson, Ryker Mercanti, Jarod Nettagog and Randy Silversmith are part of the Project Pathfinder program taking place at Mohawk College this summer.

The first of four groups of Aboriginal students are just finishing up a two-week program at Mohawk College that is aimed at encouraging Aboriginal students to pursue post-secondary studies.

Project Pathfinder is a Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities funded program run by Mohawk's Aboriginal Education and Student Services that invites Aboriginal students to experience college life by staying on campus for two weeks. While here, the students participate in a wide range of activities intended to introduce them to career options in professions such as chemistry, skilled trades and robotics. The students also get to learn the Mohawk language and receive help with job skills such as resume writing.

As part of the program the students have been given HD handycams that they'll use to record their experiences in the program. With the help of a professional documentary crew, the students will use their footage to create a short recruitment video for Mohawk College to use for recruiting Aboriginal students.

The documentary crew is also producing a short documentary highlighting Aboriginal people that have achieved success through post-secondary studies. The film will include interviews with current post-secondary students, recent grads, new professionals and President/CEO level Aboriginals.