Education

C M Y K PAGE 10 10 SUPPLEMENT TO THE FREE PRESS • SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2022 EDUCATION GUIDE F or student Rayne Ryle- Cote, who is Anishi- naabe (mother from Lake St. Martin, father from Cote First Nation), tak- ing a chance on a new path has led to a tasty new venture with RRC Polytech's Prairie Research Kitchen. Following the challenges that came along with the pandemic, Ryle-Cote was looking for a new di- rection in her life when she discov- ered the Compass Skills program at RRC Polytech, which was all about career exploration, goal-setting and self-refection — an environment she says was a safe and inspiring space. Compass Skills is a holistic Indigenous-led 10-week program focused on creating a foundation of skills to enter employment and/or further education. "I lost everything. I was in a dark spot and I was lost," she says. "My friend told me about this program, and when I learned how it can help me find employment and also pro- vided cultural teachings, I instantly signed up." Along with seeking a new path of employment, Ryle-Cote also yearned to access Indigenous teach- ings, something her family did not pass down out of fear. "My family went through a lot with residential schools, and it af- fected them largely where they were so afraid for me and my sisters," she says. "But I was always interested in learning about my culture. I always wanted to learn how to bead or how to make a drum and sing in Ojibwe. It was always in me, but I didn't have access to it." During the program, Ryle-Cote expressed her interests in cooking. First inspired by her mother, she grew to love cooking, hosting and how food brought people together. She and her sisters even took over preparing the large family Christmas meal, which brings her so much joy and pride. She didn't realize that her skills and interests could be trans- ferrable towards a career. "I shared my dream with my teachers of becoming a chef and to create or modernize Indigenous recipes and that I wanted to travel," she says. RRC POLYTECH Culinary connections CONTINUED ON PAGE 11 I shared my dream with my teachers of becoming a chef and to create or modernize Indigenous recipes and that I wanted to travel." — Rayne Ryle-Cote, student at RRC Polytech PHOTO COURTESY OF RRC POLYTECH Student Rayne Ryle-Cote (right) joins her colleagues in RRC Polytech's Culinary Skills program in preparing food for an event. PHOTO COURTESY OF RRC POLYTECH Student Rayne Ryle-Cote (right, pictured with research assistant Roxanne Kent) expressed her interest in cooking while taking the Compass Skills program through RRC Polytech. RRC Polytech student partners with Prairie Research Kitchen to create a new sauce honouring Indigenous heritage Where learning and career connect Apply now for January 2023 classes cmu.ca/admissions Small university Big opportunities CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY

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