Students honoured for academic pursuits

What do an aspiring First Nations artist, a welder and a business administrator have in common? All are paving the way for a bright future through education, and were all acknowledged for their academic pursuits after becoming British Columbia's Northwest Community College bursary and scholarship recipients for 2007.
This year, Northwest Community College (NWCC), which has campuses in Smithers, Hazelton, Houston, Kitimat, Terrace, Stewart, and Prince Rupert, presented $60,000 in awards to 47 deserving students nearly half of them being First Nations.
"It was nice, I put it right into tuition right way," said fine arts student, Henry Kelly. The 39-year-old Nisga Tsimshian husband and father of three was presented the Dempsey Bob fine arts award in the amount of $1000. Kelly, who is in his second year at NWCC's Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art in Terrace B.C., said it was an honour just being chosen by renowned Tahltan artist, Dempsey Bob.
For Kelly, the award has done so much more than help him continue his final years in the program.
"It has inspired me to keep going," he said, in reference to his courses and his craft. Living on the streets for a stint and having substance dependence issues in the past, Kelly said the arts are what has kept him sane and on track the last few years. Once a fisherman, Kelly admits that while he still has fishing in his blood, he had to consider an alternative future.
"It's a dying industry," he said. "I love the job, but it's not going anywhere."
For Kelly, the future looks bright. Currently, Kelly's art is being showcased at the Spirit Wrestler gallery in Vancouver and in early 2008 he will travel to New Zealand for a three week culture and art exchange with Maori Indigenous artists.
Vanessa Woods could very well be called an anomally in regard to women her age. Woods completed her initial certificate in welding at NWCC's Terrace campus in November and was granted a bursary of $600. At only 23, the Haisla First Nation woman has decided to pursue a career in welding.
"It was easy for me to step into a trade and understand what I was getting into," she said.
Her father was a welder and she was completely inspired by his career and work ethic. On a whim, Woods applied for the bursary and wrote the mandatory essay with a focus on women in the trades.
"Women today have opened their minds and extended their views to the limit and take more risks with their career choices," she said.
It was in those words and her dedication to welding that enabled Woods to obtain the scholarship she so deserved. Woods, who worked the summer in a pulp and paper factory in her hometown of Kitimat, B.C., and whose band didn't financially support her for her year in NWCC, said she will use the award money to continue her studies.
While she hopes to pursue a job in welding within her hometown, Woods said she wouldn't hesitate to look elsewhere for a career position if need be.
Woods also said that while it is important that First Nations people get an education, she followed her dreams not because she is First Nations, but because she had a dream.
With three kids and a husband, Annette Krause has her plate full. But her busy life hasn't stopped the 38-year-old Gitxan/Kispiox/ Tsimshian First Nation woman from working to attain her goals. After winning four NWCC awards-the most granted to one recipient this year, the business administration diploma student is still letting it all sink in.
"I feel pretty overwhelmed," said Krause. "I feel like I could achieve anything after I received the awards."
It is in this self-esteem and acknowledgement of goals that Krause believes is a catalyst for Aboriginal people everywhere. Like Kelly, Krause hasn't had the easiest life.
A past marked with substance abuse has left her thankful for life changes and accomplishments, and she's hopeful other students will follow in her footsteps.
"They (Aboriginal students) can say, 'if she can do it, I can do it," said Krause.
While education is key to Krause, she states she is torn between her culture and adapting to a non-Native Society.
"I have to play by the white man's rules," she said. "I can go live in a tipi. But if I want us to move ahead, I have to get an education."