For Jenilee Paul of St. Mary’s First Nation, her role as a course instructor at PLATO can help other Indigenous people see a path for growth in the IT sector.

“It’s kind of like being a role model. You’re setting that path so the people in the courses afterward can come into it and know that they can move up the ladder and take on more courses, more skill sets or leadership roles,” she said.

Paul says there’s not a lot of tech job opportunities accessible to Indigenous communities in New Brunswick. It’s generally not a sector where they’re involved either. But PLATO is changing that because, in addition to five-month courses on software testing and automation, it also offers part-time or full-time employment.

“Being in the field with others, for Indigenous people who haven’t done anything in IT or in that field, you have that sense that you’re not alone in it,” she said. . . .

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