2005-2006

2005-2006 IPAP placements took place in Fiji, New Zealand, The Cook Islands and The Solomon Islands

Leah Ballantyne

is a Cree from the Treaty 6 area of Pukatawagan, Manitoba . She graduated in June 2005 from the University of British Columbia with her Bachelor of laws (LLB). Leah’s interests involve both the aboriginal legal and political arenas. She has gained experience in aboriginal law working on both large comprehensive land and flood claims for law firms in Canada west: BC, Alberta , Saskatchewan & Manitoba. Supplementing this experience, Leah also has worked politically with the Chief and Council of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation, Swampy Cree Tribal Council, Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakinak, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the Assembly of First Nations.

Over the years Leah has served as both representative of University and aboriginal organizations as well as being the recipient of scholarships from the Indigenous Bar Association, Assembly of First Nations, National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, UBC law faculty, BC Association of Friendship Centers , and her local community of Pukatawagan.

Leah’s placement with the Citizen’s Constitutional Forum in Suva, Fiji, will utilize her skills in drafting documents concerning the policies and laws of Fiji ’s emerging democracy. Her work will focus on government analysis in support of democratic issues in conjunction with Fijian media and other NGO’s. While in Fiji, she will sit on the CCF Steering Committee and the Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights. Leah’s goals are to provide the CCF and affiliated NGO’s with as much legal assistance as she can offer, drawing from her indigenous perspectives she brings from Canada.

Leah would like to thank the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Pacific Peoples Partnership and the Citizen’s Constitutional Forum for providing her the opportunity to learn from this important international internship posting.

Amanda Chabot

Kwey, my name is Amanda Chabot, I am Algonquin/Mi’kmaq from Kitigan Zibi First Nation in Maniwaki, Quebec and Afton First Nation in Nova Scotia, born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. I attended the University of Ottawa where I completed my undergraduate degree in Political Science and Global Studies. I then attended Seneca College for one year and completed the Regulatory Law Administration post-diploma. Finally, I pursued the International Project Management post-diploma program at Humber College in Toronto.

I am pleased to have been selected to work with the Solomon Islands Christian Association Commission (SICA) in Honiara. As a research officer for the next six months, I will under take a youth research project to inform and provide recommendations on youth programming and policy which will be used at the church, non-governmental and government level.
I am honored and excited to be a participant in the Indigenous Peoples Abroad Program (IPAP). I am certain that my participation in the IPAP program will provide me with the necessary skills and experience to prepare and position me for future employment with organizations engaged in international and community development. Migweetch.

Alana Carroll

Kia Orana, my name is Alana Carroll. I grew up in Victoria, B.C and I am a member of the Chippewa of Nawash First Nation. My Mom comes from Cape Crocker, Ontario and my Dad comes from Inverness, Quebec. I completed my Associates of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Camosun College, and went on to finish my BA in Criminology from Simon Fraser. My interests in school were Indigenous Peoples and the Law and Restorative Justice practices. I have previously volunteered with the Victoria Youth Custody Centre, Victoria Area Parole and the John Howard Society of the Lower Mainland. For my placement, I will be a Probation Officer Intern at the Ministry of Justice in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. I was surprised to come and find a very similar justice system, based on British Common Law. Many of the social issues in the Cook Islands are similar to those found in Canada. I am eager to learn about the rehabilitation programs in place here and also to share about ones we have back home. Meitaki maata.

Eric St-Pierre

Is from Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. His father’s background is French while his mother is Métis from the Algonquin territory as recognized by the Métis Nation of Ontario. Eric holds an honours degree in political science from Concordia University in Montreal. His curiosity about arts, culture, language and politics has led him to over a dozen countries including the former Yugoslavia. His interest in areas of conflict, politics and issues affecting human security grew even further when in December of 2004 Eric travelled with twelve other Canadian students to Israel and the West Bank. Exposure to the Middle-Eastern conflict put his studies into perspective and strengthened his dedication to human rights.

In the summer of 2005 Eric spent two months in Uganda and Eastern Africa working with internally displaced persons from Gulu, as well as visiting Rwanda and Tanzania. In Africa, he learned a great deal about culture, conflict, human security as well as the role of law and order in Rwanda. He also learned a great deal about his own strengths and weaknesses.

Eric joined IPAP in late December 2005. He will travel to Honiara in the Solomon Islands in early January where he will work as a researcher with the Department of National Unity, Reconciliation & Peace.

Alicia Hooper

My family is of Metis heritage with involvement in the Hudson Bay Company and named in the towns of Cawston and Hodgson. I grew up in the town of Smithers in northern British Columbia.

I feel I have broadened my family and community during my travels and work. After high school I traveled for six months in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji so its nice to be back in the south Pacific. I volunteered in Romania as part of some theology and cross-cultural communications training. Global studies have interested me, specifically the roles of aquaculture and fisheries management in sustainable development. I took a two-year diploma in Fisheries and Aquaculture in Nanaimo, BC. Through this I was able to take a position in southern Brasil in aquaculture laboratories of a Federal University. I continued on to a Bachelors of Science and have been working on a visual art minor. Throughout my degree I have had various work experiences in my field, most recently as a larval rearing technician for marine fish. Sketching for the science field has also been a new endeavor.

I enjoy the hands on nature of all my positions and the challenge of developmental projects and networking with a larger community. Currently I am working at the Ministry of Marine Resources in Rarotonga in the Cook Islands through a six month internship with Pacific Peoples Partnership. During that time I will be involved in survey and monitoring projects of the Aquaculture and Inshore Fisheries Division. It is an amazing blessing to be able to investigate the blue, blue waters of the south Pacific and to enjoy the Polynesian culture.

Carl Fernandez

I’m Ojibway and my Aboriginal ancestry comes through my grandmother who is a member of Wahnapitae First Nation in central Ontario. I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Health and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education at Queen’s University. I have published in essay in the book “Strong Women Stories,” which is edited by Kim Anderson and Bonita Lawrence. I have worked numerous summers at camps with responsibilities that included leading wilderness canoe trips and facilitating adventure based leadership activities. I taught safe sex in Guyana, South America when I was volunteering with Youth Challenge International. I also taught at a pre-school in Jamaica for four months. I worked for two years at Queen’s University as the Aboriginal Recruitment Officer. In June 2005, I finished a one year contract with Katimavik as a Project Leader.

I am working in Rotorua, New Zealand as a Youth Worker / Outdoor Educator for Te Waiariki Purea Trust. So far I have led hiking trips and a school holiday program for high school youth. I assisted the Outdoor Instructor with rock climbing / rappelling, kayaking, and white water canoeing. Future projects include leading more programs for high school youth to build self-esteem through adventure based leadership activities. New Zealand has been fantastic. I really look forward to seeing the local hotspots, learning about the Maori culture, and sharing my indigenous knowledge.

Kwe Kwe,

My name is Jessica Kawenno:tie Oesterreich, a member of the Mohawk Nation from Kahnawake. Last year I completed my Bachelor of Arts at McGill University. I am presently in Rotorua New Zealand working with "Da Bomb Shelter", Rotorua's Community Youth Centre. I will be working on programming and activities planning while I am here. Da Bomb Shelter is frequented mostly by Maori youth, but welcomes youth from all ethnic backgrounds. During my time in Rotorua, I am looking forward to learning new strategies for encouraging youth involvement in community programming.