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Darren Prosper and Candice Sylliboy
Candice Syliboy and Darren Prosper have the unique experience among Aboriginal Canadians of being able to find work in their home community. It's fitting then that a big part of their job is to help others stay within their home community as well.
These two NSCC grads both work for the Mawita'mk Society, a registered charity that celebrates the gifts of people with developmental disabilities. The Society, located in We'koqma'q First Nation on Cape Breton Island, ensures that disabled Mi'kmaq are able to retain their culture and be cared for by people that they know.
Two facilities have been built - a community home called Ni'kinen and a supported apartment complex. Both can house up to five individuals. "It feels good to be helping our community," says Darren, a Business Administration graduate who does all the accounting for the Society. "We're helping to keep Aboriginal people together and also keep our language and culture strong." Candice, one of Ni'kinen's support workers and a graduate of NSCC's Human Services program, says her job is full of meaning. "I go home every day knowing that I've helped someone, whether it be teaching them to cook or assisting with daily routines. It's so fulfilling to know that I'm teaching them to look after themselves."
Before Ni'kinen, Mi'kmaq people with disabilities had to leave their families, culture, traditions, and language to seek care outside their communities. Across Canada there are hundreds of First Nations people with disabilities living in institutional care.
The notion of disabled Mi'kmaq people being able to receive care without leaving home has been a dream of Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy and Tom Gunn, incoming Principal of NSCC's Strait Area Campus, for over 20 years. In fact, with a number of other volunteers, both have worked to provide community based options for Mi'kmaq people with disabilities. Along with another community member, Margaret Poulette, they founded the Mawita'mk Society, and currently serve on the Board of Directors.
Tom Gunn has a long history of advocating for people with disabilities. He and his wife established L'Arche in Cape Breton 25 years ago. "We're very excited about the Society," he says. "As far as we know it's the only Mi'kmaq registered charity in Canada and it's the only group home approved for a First Nation community in decades."
"The main goal is to have our own people helping our people," says Grand Chief Ben Sylliboy. To ensure that members of the We'koqma'q First Nation are the ones working at Ni'kinen, NSCC partnered with the community to provide a 15-week training program called "Introduction to Disabilities". This training was offered within the community and the initiative had both federal and provincial government support. Beyond this, grads like Candice and Darren have gone on to NSCC's Strait Area Campus to receive further training - Candice earning a diploma in Human Services and Darren a diploma in Business Administration. For Candice and Darren, helping their own people in such a tangible way is incredibly meaningful. "We feel so proud to be helping our community and also privileged to have the opportunity to work with so many special people," says Candice. "Every day, they touch our lives in ways that are indescribable."
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