Special conferences for youth at Native Business Seminar

Page 2

TORONTO - Youth were not forgotten at the Native Business Summit here recently.

More than 100 Native young people from across Canada - 15 of them from Alberta - attended a Native Youth Business Leadership Conference sponsored by the Canadian Council for Native Business (CCNB).

The conference was designed "to encourage Native Youth to consider business as an option, and to position the CCNB and its member network as active advisors, not only to the delegates themselves, but through them to all members of the Native community.

The objectives of the conference were:

- To facilitate a mutually satisfying face-to-face meeting between Native delegates and the leading Native and non-Native business leaders.

- To prepare Native youth for their roles in Native administration, business entrepreneurship, employment, investment and other business ventures.

- To inform the business community of the potential for Native participation in the private sector.

To generate public awareness and create a positive image of Native youth and the great potential for their achievement of their successful and rewarding careers and their contribution to Canadian prosperity.

- To provide role models to Native delegates to help them establish high standards of personal leadership skills.

Chairman of the conference was George Calliou from Sucker Creek Reserve.

Calliou received his elementary and secondary education at an all-Indian residential school, then studied political science at the University of Calgary.

He has served on numerous boards and committees and has worked for a number

of Native organizations involved in socio-economic development, sports and recreation.

For the past eight years he has been the advisor on Native Affairs for Petro Canada.