Summer interns at work
Doing their thing: Lucas Arana (left), sales and administrative assistant, and Sterling Mallette, morning host at Reviving Kanehsatà:ke Radio (RKR) 101.7 FM. Hadassah Alencar The Pines Reporter
When Lucas Arana first started as a summer intern at Reviving Kanehsatà:ke Radio (RKR) 101.7 FM, he felt too shy to speak with sales clients at meetings.
But in two weeks of working with RKR sales representative Michelle Daoust, he has begun taking the reins in meetings.
“He’s approaching people without hesitation,” said Daoust. “The growth in the last couple of weeks is astronomical.”
For Arana, this six-week role as sales and administrative assistant at RKR has already helped strengthen his people skills and create engaging social media content.
“I’ve always been a bit of a reclusive person. I’m introverted, so approaching people, especially to get them to buy something, is a little hard to process. It’s hard to piece together in my head how I would go about doing that,” said Arana. “But honestly, she’s (Michelle) shown that it’s rather simple, it’s not as daunting as I thought it would be.”
This summer, 24 summer interns are working in Kanesatake, in placements at employers such as the Mohawk Council of Kanesatake, the Kanesatake Health Center, Rotiwennakéhte Elementary School, Gardens of Hope Kanehsatake, and Bayside Convenience & Gas.
Students gain valuable work experience and skills during the program, said Kanesatake Employment and Training Service Center (KETSC) manager Michelle Lamouche.
KETSC provides a wage subsidy for employers to hire students during the summer with funding from different providers, such as Service Canada and the Kanesatake Education Centre.
While some requirements differ depending on the funding partner, all students must be Indigenous, at least 15 years old, and be registered to return to school.
Summer internship positions pay an hourly rate of $18.50 for high school students, $19.50 for college students, and $20.50 for university students, said Lamouche.
She appreciates the employers for taking on the work to support the students’ learning.
“What we’re hoping for from the employer is to really mentor them,” said Lamouche.
“It’s a lot of committed commitment from the employers, but we need the employers to participate in this. Other than that, our students, our community, our young students will not be able to have any experience, which is what they need.”
Rotiwennakéhte principal Melissa McGregor knows the value such a program can provide for a student’s future success.
“I am also one of the students who has benefited from a very similar program within my own community at Kahnawake, and without that summer school program, I don’t really know where I would have been,” said McGregor.
“It is absolutely worth it. And we’re having a ball, so I really do encourage other employers to participate. Whatever the efforts are, it’s minimal in comparison to the benefits to the community.”
Karahkóhare Sylvain Gaspé, president of Mohawk MultiMedia Inc., which oversees the radio station, said summer students have always delved into a myriad of tasks necessary for the radio station. It has always been mutually beneficial, where the students gain a wider net of skills, but also help the radio to check off from the ever-present to-do list.
“What is typical in a radio station is that people wear many hats and can do many different things, because it’s a small organization, so there’s not only one task. And what people don’t realize is it’s not always an on-the-air job – there’s more work that goes on behind the scenes than on the radio,” said Gaspé.
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“It’s just so important for employers to open the doors to summer students,” said Gaspé. “It’s an opportunity for youth and in the community to do something, and I’m really proud of Lucas, who just jumped in and said, ‘let me just give this a try.’”
Arana, the RKR summer intern and current CEGEP student, will use the experience he gained to pursue a career in accounting.
“I’m getting a lot more experience in that, which I think will help me do what I want to do,” said Arana, referring to his administrative and accounting work for the radio station.
Students interested in the program can connect with KETSC for help with finding a summer internship placement, said Lamouche, adding that students may even seek a summer placement with a workplace, and KETSC can find funding to cover their salary.
Hadassah Alencar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
