The First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) is partnering with Co-operators Community Funds to help with the creation of a Career Centre and Work Integrated Learning Initiative to connect Indigenous Students with career development tools and training.
On October 2, 2024, the Co-operators and FNUniv made the announcement of their partnership. The Co-operators have pledged a total of $390,00 over a period of 3 years.
They have also committed to hiring 2 graduates from FNUniv starting in 2025 to 2027.
“These experiences are very, very important in having and creating bridges from the university experience to the work force and to prepare students for that,” said Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann, President of First Nations University.
Co-operators will also facilitate internship opportunities, develop financial literacy resources, and co-create mentorship programs that will connect students and graduates with employers.
“We’ve been working with FNUniv for about a year to figure out what would be the best way we can support students in Regina,” explained Shawna Peddle, Associate Vice President of Citizenship at Cooperators. “We felt that it was the best place for us as part of our reconciliation journey to begin the process of starting to undo some of the harms.”
FNuniv will prioritize workplace readiness by creating connections between Indigenous youth and employers.
First Nations University is Canada’s only First Nations-owned Indigenous post-secondary institution.
This partnership with the Co-operators will help students and graduates gain valuable experience that will help propel careers after graduation.
Here are the full interviews with Dr. Jacqueline Ottmann, President of FNUniv, and Shawna Peddle, Associate Vice President of Citizenship at Cooperators.