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Student Success

The Cree word Nîsôhkamâtotân means “let’s help each other” and represents how we can learn from one another and lift each other up by sharing in our successes and our post-secondary experiences. Here, Indigenous students and alumni from diverse communities provide their words of encouragement and advice for NAIT students to help them pursue their goals. 


Shared experiences and advice from current students

Photo of Instrument and Control Technician Neil Janvier

Neil Janvier

Instrument and Control Technician

Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation (Janvier), AB

Goals
Finish my Instrument and Control Technician trade, this will create more opportunities in my career. Most companies consider dual ticket an asset. I think instrumentation is a highly respected trade, the schooling is very tough. I like the challenge and when I complete it, I will hopefully move into leadership.   

Advice for future students
If you are considering a career in the trades, do some research, choose the right trade for you, do you enjoy problem solving? Electrical and Instrumentation might be for you. Whatever you decide to do, give it your best and set some goals and work towards it, believe in yourself - you can achieve anything you put your mind to.  Never stop learning. Attitude and a good work ethic goes a long way. It's not always easy - but few things worth doing are.

Millwork and Carpentry student Valerie Mackenzie

Valerie Mackenzie

Millwork and Carpentry

Behchoko, NT

What led her to NAIT
It took me a while to figure out what I really wanted to do; it took a long time. I tried different things and different jobs, but carpentry always seemed to pop up in my life. I took Workshop in High School, joined a Trades program during my time with Northern Youth Abroad, and even went through carpentry training that led to a summer contract job. That’s when I realized I should really give carpentry a try, so I applied to NAIT. What caught my eye about the Millwork and Carpentry program was that it combined two areas in one, which felt like the perfect fit for me. I wanted to learn the basics, get the proper experience, and challenge myself. Honestly, I still can't believe it, but I ended up on the Dean’s Honor Roll. It was a huge surprise, and it gave me the motivation to push through and keep my grades up, even when it got tough. There were plenty of times when I felt like giving up, but I want to see where this path will take me. 

Advice for future students
Try different things and gain as much experience as possible. If you don’t succeed, don’t be discouraged—just try again and don’t give up. It’s okay to revisit programs or subjects you struggled with. Get involved with the college—resources like the Nîsôhkamâtotân Centre offer great support. Enjoy college life by attending events, clubs, or fun activities like karaoke or Mario Kart during lunch. It’s also important to take care of yourself and enjoy the little things. Focus on school but make time for yourself too. And always remember to ask for help if you’re having trouble or don’t understand something. Your instructors are there to guide you. There’s a lot of support around, and everyone wants to see you succeed. You can do it—you just have to get started.


Shared experiences and advice from alumni

Brett Landry

Business Administration - Human Resource Management

Okanese First Nation Treaty 4, SK

Portrait of Brett Landry

“Stay gold, Ponyboy” - The Outsiders   

Advice to future students
I did my best when I attended EVERY SINGLE CLASS. Try to stay focused on self-care and doing healthy things to improve your outcomes in school. Establish a system of supports to help you through the hard times.   

Future goals
Start my own employment equity programming to help increase Indigenous peoples in the workforce. 

Drea Halfe

Culinary Arts

Saddle Lake Cree Nation, AB

Portrait of Drea Halfe

“Trust the timing of your life.” 

Advice to future students
Follow your passion. Find what makes you happy and make that your career. Do it for you and you will succeed.   

Future goals
My future goals would be to own a food truck and a bakery. I would also love to travel with my family and teach my 2 sons how to cook.   

Tiffany Marten

Chemical Technology

Mikisew Cree First Nation

Portrait of Tiffany Marten

We’ve come for everything we were told we couldn’t have. We have arrived.” – Danielle H. Morrison   

Advice to future students
If you ever struggled focusing during class, following oral instructions or if you can’t stop procrastinating, get assessed for a learning disability and apply for accommodations for your studies. It helps tremendously and NAIT has amazing resources for students.     

Future goals
I plan on getting into Environmental Chemistry and want to help my community with the skills that I’ve learned as a Chemical Technician.


Roger Abraham

Carpenter

Frog Lake First Nation, AB

Portrait of Rodger Abraham

“Never know until you try, so it’s either all in or nothing!” –Anonymous 

Advice for students
The only limitation to everything is yourself. Go in with a mindset full of “I can do this; nothing is stopping me”. Once you do something once, it gets easier each time after that. It’s how we master things and get better at them.

Future goals
To get my journeyman, start my own company and teach youth with the same upbringing I had. I’ve had a good taste at contracting. I want to solidify everything by being ticketed instead of going off experience. Carpentry runs in my family. Generations of it.

 

Ashley Bell

Medical Radiologic Technology ’21

Sucker Creek First Nation, AB

Portrait of Ashley Bell
“Everything you’ve ever wanted is sitting on the other side of fear.” – George Addair

Advice for students
Work hard, study hard. Keep your head down and your chin up. But if all else fails, call on your ancestors for strength, guidance, and patience. After all, their blood runs through your veins, their heart beats in your chest, and your soul is their soul.

Future goals
I want to complete my program and work as an x-ray tech back home.

Jonathon Pruden

Parts Technician ’21

Spruce Grove, AB

Portrait of Jonathon Pruden

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” –Wayne Gretzky

Advice to future students
Make friends, work and learn together.

Future goals
Continue to pursue knowledge and experience new things.

Maureen Charland

Power Engineering Technology ’21

Cold Lake First Nations, AB

A photo of Maureen Charland
“You have brains in your head. Feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” – Dr. Seuss

Advice to future students
Don’t hesitate and be active in studying.

Future goals
Obtain my second class ticket and travel.

Melanie Ward

Occupational Health & Safety ’22

Enoch Cree Nation

Portrait of Melanie Ward
“Life is short, time is fast, no replay, no rewind, so enjoy every moment as it comes.” –Anonymous

Advice to future students
Dedicate time to studying, even when you’re tired “just do it,” it’ll pay off in the long run.

Future goals
Keep achieving more, keep challenging myself, maybe I’ll end up having my own company or manage one.

Lana Lawrick

Architectural Technology

Kapawe'no First Nation, AB

Portrait of Lana Lawrick
“Train the mind and the body will follow.” – Robert Jones

Advice to future students  
The hard work and sacrifice we make now will pay off in the future, always stay focused on your goal.

Future goals
I would like to have my own renovation company one day.


Zabeth Tsetta

Personal Fitness Trainer

Yellowknife, NT

Portrait of Zabeth Tsetta
“Life is too short to be nervous.” – Unknown

Advice to future students
APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS! And don’t be afraid to ask questions in class. 

Future goals
To own a fitness studio based in my home.

 

Tasha Tologanak

Culinary Arts ’19

Cambridge Bay, NV

A portrait of Tasha Tologanak
“Going through things you thought you’d never go through will only take you places you thought you’d never get to.” –  Morgan Harper Nichols

Advice to future students
Show up every day, study, and work hard. It will all be worth it in the end.

Future goals
My future goal is to start a catering business back home and to eventually open my own restaurant.

Nick Park

Heavy Equipment Technician ‘23

Edmonton, AB

Portrait of Nick Park
“if you don't like it, learn to love it.” – Ric Flair

Advice for students
Never give up, the journey will be hard, but you will gain more than you could ever imagine. 

Future goals
To travel and help my children grow into the people they want to become. 


Nigel Wildcat

Bachelor of Business Administration ’20

Ermineskin Cree Nation, AB

A portrait of Nigel Wildcat
“Do or do not, there is no try.” –Yoda

Advice to future students
Utilize the Nîsôhkamâtotân Centre as much as possible, they are there to help you. Apply for as many scholarships as you can. Don’t skip class!

Future goals
My goal after graduation is to obtain my CPA designation.


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