Third-year learners enrolled in First Nations Technical Institute's Aboriginal Media Program recently received broadcast industry training at Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network's Ottawa bureau this past October 2002.

"Many of our learners may seek jobs with APTN upon graduation, so it's great to receive their support for training during the calendar year," says Aboriginal Media Program coordinator Brant Bardy.

First Nations Technical Institute has an accreditation partnership with Humber College in Toronto, Ont. to provide college-level print and broadcast journalism training for Aboriginal people.

"We are so fortunate to have such a positive support network for our program," says Bardy. Most of the instructors are brought in from the media industry. "Who better to train our people than those who are working in the industry on a daily basis?"

Ken Williams, Ottawa Correspondent, APTN National News helped supervise the training efforts at APTN. "What I like about the learning model at FNTI is its focus on real world experience. It's the best way for the learners to test what their instructors have told them in the classroom. Here at APTN National News, we want to help them get that real world experience. Even if they don't want to be journalists, they get a chance to see how daily news is constructed, and that, hopefully, will make them more media savvy in the future," says Williams.

For more information on the Aboriginal Media Program contact FNTI at 1-613-396-2122, or toll-free at 1-800-267-0637.