Saskatchewan Legislature today. Photo courtesy of Manfred Joehnck
High school students from the province’s north are taking over the Saskatchewan Legislature today.
It is part of the Charles Knight Youth Mentorship Program, now into its eighth year of operation. Its focus is giving the students an eye-opener on what is available to them once they finish high school and why pursuing dreams can become a reality.
There are 40 students from 11 northern communities taking part. It’s been a whirlwind of activity and experiences. The students visited the University of Regina, First Nations University of Canada, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, RCMP Depot Division and Government House.
They also got a chance to meet the chief justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench. Today, it’s a full day at the legislature, where the students took part in a mock parliament and were formally introduced in the house.
Grade 11 student Johnny Ratt is from La Ronge. He says there is a lot of opportunity for First Nations youth. He is advising fellow students to take advantage of that.
“To see what there is, and to take every opportunity you can to see what is available because you are going to be missing a lot if you don’t go out searching for it,” he said.
Grade 10 student Boyd Deschambault is from Cumberland House. He also plans on post-secondary education in pursuit of a career. He just hasn’t pinned it down yet.
“This is really interesting,” he said. “It’s opened my eyes to being a lawyer and being more connected to politics.”
The students will be headed back home Wednesday morning. For some of them, it will be a very long trip back to tiny communities like Stony Rapids, Black Lake, Cumberland House, Dillon, Fond-du-Lac and Deschambault Lake.
Teacher chaperone, Aaron Fosseneuve, from the Charlebois Community School in Cumberland House, says the program expands the boundaries for northern students. He calls it an energetic and exciting educational experience that promotes lifelong learning.