Joely BigEagle-Pasapa: Engineering her future to help First Nations people

Joely BigEagle-Pasapa is studying engineering at the University of Calgary. She will complete her degree in April 2004, with a major in Civil Engineering and a minor in Environmental Engineering.

"I'm interested in caring for the earth and designing different things that can help to improve some of the methods and processes we use today, such as with water treatment. I'm interested also in energy efficient homes. Ultimately what I want to do is project management on First Nations. I want to be involved in community development."

Joely discovered an interested in engineering while taking a drafting class in high school. She attended school in her home community of White Bear First Nation, which is located in southeastern Saskatchewan. "I really liked the whole design process, and drawing and that started me wondering where this type of work led. Engineering was one place, architecture was another."

She graduated high school and later attended the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College at the University of Regina, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics. Her strong background in mathematics has been a tremendous asset to her engineering studies. "You need mathematics, physics, chemistry, and you really need to have an understanding of geometry. The basics that you learn in grade 7 and 8 really help you later on. I didn't grasp it that well at the time, and I had a tough time with mathematics when I started university, but I had some excellent teachers who helped me get through it."

Living away from her home community and her family has been tough for Joely, and she offers these words of advice to other students: "You really need the support of family and friends. My children have always influenced and motivated me, and my mother has always been there to support me. Seek out people who will support you in your education, and who will encourage you to finish, especially if you move away from home to another city. I lived in Regina for a long time, and moving to Calgary was a culture shock. It's a different atmosphere, and you have to adjust, but you can't do it in isolation. If there's a First Nations' student association, join it. Volunteer, join a committee or a club - step out of your boundaries. You'll find that there are many other students who are in the same situation as you, and it will make the adjustment a bit easier."

Profile provided by Saskatchewan Job Futures.