New Public Relations program at FNTI...

Indigenous Communications at First Nations Technical Institute on Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, east of Belleville, Ont. and west of Deseronto is changing its three-year journalism diploma program and, in September, adding a new one-year public relations program.

“Both programs are about telling our own stories,” says new coordinator Dan David. “Both will have a strong new emphasis on delivering those stories on-line. As always, we’ll emphasize excellence and encourage students to take stories rooted in their own communities to the world at large.”

David says, “If you know prospective students…working adults who need credentials, or recent high school grads… who want hands-on Aboriginal journalism or public relations training with lots of internship time in real world media jobs…send them to us.”

Graduates receive credentials from FNTI’s partner institutions, a Journalism-Aboriginal Profile diploma from Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, or a Public Relations certificate from Loyalist College of Applied Arts and Technology.

“Our full-time programs, in which intensive class sessions alternate with internship placements, are ideal for people who don’t want to leave their home communities for a year or three at a time,” says David, whose background includes APTN, CBC and a wide variety of both public relations and reporting work.

Call Wendy Sero at 1-800-267-0637, ext. 160 or email wendyr@fnti.net to receive brochures for both programs and application forms. Prospective students are encouraged to check out Indigenous Communications at FNTI on line at www.fnti.net

The rewards are great...

My name is Colin French and I hail from the Anishnabek Nation of the Deshkun Ziibi. (or that's Chippewa of the Thames, for those who don't know) We are located on un-surrendered territory about 25 km southwest of London,Ontario. I chose to attend FNTI because I needed to sharpen my message. I have always been a believer in educating those who don't know the History of First Nations people in North America. And when I finally chose to pursue my post secondary education I came across the Aboriginal Media Program (now called Indigenous Communications - Journalism) at FNTI. The program is designed to bolster one's knowledge of Indigenous issues affecting all Indigenous people across North America. The experience I recieved at FNTI is one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. The friends, the hardships, the suffering, the good times and the down right hilarious. My life has become more enriched specifically because of my experiences at FNTI. I am currently interning at Muchmusic in Toronto. The days are long but the rewards are even greater. Free movies, music and stationary equipment! lol jk The only other words of wisdom I can pass on to those who may follow the same path come from a leader who has long since passed, but I believe his words embody the struggle we all face.

"Will we let ourselves be destroyed in our turn without a struggle,
give up our homes, our country bequeathed to us by the Great Spirit,
the graves of our dead and everything that is dear and sacred to us?
I know you will cry with me, 'Never! Never!'"

Tecumseh, Shawnee war chief and uniter