Justice careers in the spotlight!

The Department took advantage of two key activities in January to showcase its Aboriginal career education package, the Justice in the Classroom module. Associate Deputy Minister Donna Miller took centre stage at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards gala in Vancouver in late January, to introduce the project to a live audience of more than 2,500 spectators. Ms. Miller provided a two-minute description of the project, which was followed with a preview of the DVD portion of the module.

The module was given an additional boost that same week when it was shown to Aboriginal high school students at the Blueprint for the Future career fair, also in Vancouver. Justice staff from the BC regional office and headquarters pitched in at the career fair to present a wide spectrum of career-related products, information, and workshops to the participants.

The Justice in the Classroom module is expected to be rolled out to schools across Canada over the next several weeks. The package employs various tools that are designed to promote legal careers to Aboriginal high school students. It was produced in partnership with the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, and other federal departments.

The Aboriginal Justice Directorate (AJD) would like to thank all the volunteers who helped with managing the Justice kiosk and facilitating the various workshops. The AJD also extends its appreciation to Ms. Miller for championing the Justice in the Classroom module at the Achievement Awards Gala.

Above: Associate Deputy Minister Donna Miller
introducing the Justice in the Classroom module
in Vancouver

For additional information about the Justice in the Classroom career module, please contact Lucie Charron at (613) 957-9598.

Speaking notes: The Circle of Justice launch presentation

Donna Miller, January 11, 2006

Good evening. Aboriginal youth will be among our leaders of tomorrow. They will bring incredible energy, vitality, and unique perspectives to Canadian workplaces, and we need to help them get there.

The Department of Justice is determined to assist youth from First Nations, Métis and Inuit with their career objectives.

And we are doing that with the help of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and Public Security and Emergency Preparedness Canada. Together, we are laying the groundwork for an exciting, prosperous future for all young Aboriginal people.

We need more Aboriginal people in Justice professions. We need them to be our future paralegals, our lawyers, correctional officers, judges, probation officers and forensic scientists. The possibilities are endless and our doors are open.

The result of our partnership with the Achievement Foundation is an innovative, inspirational, and fun information tool that will demonstrate to Aboriginal youth what a career in Justice can mean to them and their futures.

Our goal was to create a learning module that will capture the interest of Aboriginal high school students while educating them about careers in Justice. “The Circle of Justice” module, the third installment of the Industry in the Classroom series is a curriculum that uses video, hip-hop music, drama, documentary, and humour to provide insight into justice careers.

“Justice in the Classroom” will soon be – well – in classrooms right across Canada and we expect to reach well over 1000 Aboriginal youth in the first year alone. The message is clear, a career choice in Justice, is a solid choice.

The Government of Canada is excited to be working with NAAF in its efforts to promote careers within Canadian industries, and tonight, we are thrilled to present to you - a capsule of “Justice in the Classroom.”

I hope you will share in our excitement about the tremendous opportunities that this project represents for Aboriginal youth.

With that, I am now pleased to officially launch - “The Circle of Justice.”