Oteenow celebrates success with round dance

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Laughter, extraordinary drumming and fancy dance moves were all a part of Oteenow Employment and Training Society's second annual round dance at Edmonton's airport hangar on Kingsway on Dec. 6.

More than 750 people attended the celebration, which included a feast and a give-away.

Victor Horseman, the marketing and communications director of Oteenow, said that hosting the round dance was a way for the society to socialize, let the community know about its services and programs and tie into the city's communities by distributing Oteenow's annual report for 2001 and 2002.

"It was very successful, we did not expect so many people at the round dance. We were just overwhelmed with the amount that did attend. We not only wanted to bring just the Aboriginal community together but we also wanted the Edmonton community to help us celebrate our successful fiscal year," he said.

Oteenow Employment and Training Society began as a new board in April 1, 1999. Since then the society has provided labor market information and services to help Aboriginal people find employment solutions.

Their mission is to provide human resource programs and services to First Nations people in the Edmonton area. The services include help with career planning, job search techniques, application processes, individual career counseling and apprenticeship and industry training.

The main office is located in the west-end on 10470-176 St. and the employment centre is located at the Clairview Plaza at 14021 Victoria Trail in Edmonton.

"The society's mission statement is to ultimately prepare First Nation people today for employment tomorrow," said Horseman.

The society is entering into its final year of funding from a five-year agreement, and negotiations are underway for a new agreement, which will be announced before April 1, 2004 if successful. Victor Horseman hopes that in the new agreement will see a continuation in their allotted funds, so that they can continue to provide more programs and services as they relate to labor market initiatives for Aboriginal people in Edmonton.

"I think Ooteenaw is quite successful. Ten years ago, the services that were available then cannot be measured in comparison to what is available today. We've got state of the art technology and we have a very skilled workforce," he said.

"We've had a full year of activities, services and growth that next year we will provide more services to the Aboriginal community as it pertains to their labor market needs," he said.

For further information, you can visit their society office, the employment centre, or their Web site at www.oteenow.com.