Connecting Youth and Careers

Taking Pulse works to connect First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth to meaningful careers in a variety of industries. The principle objective of this innovative and collective effort is to increase Aboriginal participation in the Canadian workforce while simultaneously addressing the 70% high school dropout rate of Aboriginal students.

The Taking Pulse initiative began in 2001 from broad-based consultations that engaged educators, provincial and federal officials, private sector representatives, and Aboriginal people from across Canada in collaborative discussions on identifying issues and recommending positive solutions.

Today, Taking Pulse strives to meet its objectives through two initiatives: Industry in the Classroom and Rivers to Success.

Taking Pulse
Suzanne Bradley
Taking Pulse Coordinator
1-800-329-9780 ext 230
1-519-445-3016
sbradley@naaf.ca

Industry in the Classroom

Industry in the Classroom is a series of 2.5 hour curriculum modules designed to increase awareness amongst Aboriginal youth about the various career opportunities in the Canadian workforce and open doors to employment. Through these curriculum modules students are recruited to careers in various industries and are motivated to stay in school. To date modules have been produced on the Railway, Transportation, Justice, and Health industries, including a separate module on Inuit Health

NAAF has partnered with Canadian corporations, federal departments, national organizations, and other private sector companies to implement Industry in the Classroom. Aboriginal educators and youth participated in focus groups and directed the curriculum’s design.

Industry in the Classroom is made available free-of-charge to high schools that have a significant population of Aboriginal students, including day schools, First Nations schools, provincial public schools, private schools, and training centres. NAAF identifies a national Aboriginal role model/champion to pair with an industry-specific Aboriginal expert for a maximum group of 25 Aboriginal students per session. Included with the workshop are an interactive curriculum manual for educators, promotional materials, scholarship information, and an industry-specific, Aboriginal-produced 24-minute video that shows students career possibilities through humour, hip-hop music, and interviews with real life Aboriginal professionals.

For more information on Industry in the Classroom, click here.  

Rivers To Success

This unique and collaborative multi-option initiative was created to inspire, motivate and facilitate the return to school of Aboriginal at-risk youth who have left school within a three year period prior to entering the program. Our primary target group is Aboriginal youth aged 15 to 19 but we recognize the needs of students under the age of 15 and those over age 19. The key focus of Rivers To Success is full collaboration with existing services at the local, regional and national levels, reflective of the views and input of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, provincial and federal governments.

For more information on Rivers to Success, click here.