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In the first five years of the Heritage Community
Foundation's operations, the Foundation had only four
interns of Aboriginal ancestry. The Foundation
accommodates from 30-50 interns and practicum students
per year. A dream of Foundation Executive Director
Dr. Adriana Davies was the creation of a customized
on-the-job training and work experience program to
enable full participation in the Information Society by
First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth.
In 2004, as a result of partnership with the Northern
Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), the Foundation
was able to run the Aboriginal IT/Animation Pilot
Training Program. Foundation staff became NAIT
Master Instructors to be able to provide the classroom
training. This one-year program had 10 students
and eight graduated on August 19th, 2005. Eight
students received four NAIT Certificates: Web
Design, Web Application Consultant, Flash MX and
Database Administration. Seven also received
supplemental instruction in 3D Max. Bioware, the
award-winning video game maker oriented students to the
industry. After Program completion, three students
obtain employment in industry and at their Band level
while four students were employed by the Foundation.
Students not only acquired knowledge and skills; they also were involved in Heritage Community Foundation digital heritage projects. This included the Métis in Alberta, Nature's Laws and Elders' Voices websites and the new Alberta Moments one-minute vignettes for television. The students developed the Alex Decoteau and Nature's Laws Alberta Moments and are working on a Pow Wow moment. In addition, students worked with the Foundation's design staff to create an Aboriginal logo for Alberta's centenary.
For 2005-06, the Foundation and NAIT are offering a revised program-the Aboriginal Training Initiatives: Interactive Media is an 8 month custom-designed, culturally sensitive training program to provide industry with leading-edge professional interactive media technicians. The Program includes a NAIT Business Management certificate for students wishing to set up as independent contractors.