Nova Lawson: Aboriginal education initiatives co-ordinator - Thunder Bay. (2002 Winner).

Pauline Clark

If there is one thing that Nova Lawson wishes to accomplish in her life, it is to instill in all Aboriginal youth that anything is possible with sheer determination and belief in oneself.

Lawson, who is the co-ordinator of Aboriginal initiatives for Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, senses that she has, to some degree, accomplished this.

The first time someone came to her and told her "I am where I am today because you told me I could do it," Lawson was nearly brought to tears.

"Sometimes people just need to hear (that they can excel) from someone," Lawson says. "That's my goal - to influence youth to excel."

Lawson has worked hard at debunking misconceptions about access to university and education, and as a result has seen an increase in the Aboriginal population at Lakehead University.

Lawson's many accomplishments include establishing collaborations between national Aboriginal organizations and Lakehead University, co-authoring a handbook which details Aboriginal innovations and running a consulting business that is related to socio-economic groups. She is also involved in the development of a First Nations self-government and restructuring model.

"Building partnerships with Aboriginals is a trust-building process and I've been fortunate to have successes because of these partners who are willing to work together and learn about each other," Lawson says.

Doris Rossi, a nursing professor for the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in Thunder Bay, says Lawson's contributions have played an integral role in encouraging young people to achieve their dreams.

"It is people like (Lawson) who bridge cultural gaps, inspire youth to excel in extraordinary ways and generally raise the visibility of our community," Rossi says. "Nova has made a difference - an important difference."

Lawson also started Thunder Bay's first Aboriginally owned restaurant, and is a member of a number of committees, including the Ontario Women's Health Council, the provincial Aboriginal steering committee and the Aboriginal early years challenge fund steering committee.

Born in Red Deer, Alta., Lawson moved to Thunder Bay in the 1980s. In the early 1990s she started Plaza Nova, the city's first Aboriginally owned restaurant, in what she calls "typical entrepreneur style."

She had operated the restaurant for a few years, and after the death of her father, she felt she needed to move on to something else, she says. That is when a job posting for the university caught her eye and she applied on a whim. Her experience fit with what their goals were for the Aboriginal initiatives position.

Today, Lawson does her job at the university, is working towards her masters in business administration, runs her part-time consulting business and is active on the Ontario Women's Health Council.

She is also secretary of the local Aboriginal Head Start program, and was previously chairperson of the provincial early years Aboriginal steering committee. Not only that, she was chief electoral officer for the Ontario Native Women's Association, presiding over their provincial elections.

Of Cree descent herself, Lawson says she has no statu. However, that does not lessen her resolve to do what she can for the Aboriginal community though. She has contributed to all levels of government and encourages the Aboriginal community to take an active role in their municipal and regional affairs.

The handbook Lawson co-authored, Aboriginal Innovations in Arts, Sciences and Technology, has received "incredible" feedback for its value as a tool to demonstrate how Aboriginals have contributed to the arts, sciences and technology areas.

The booklet was distributed through Ontario's Aboriginal community in libraries, cultural centres and other venues. It is now online, as well, and is in demand across Canada.

While Lawson admits there have been many obstacles for her, there have also been as many rewards.

While Lawson says she is like a double minority, being a woman and being Aboriginal, she constantly works on improving her her skills. She has a few words of wisdom to share with other women.

"Draw on the skills of others, have people in your life that you admire and work to their levels, and when you think you know it all, it is time to go."

She cites Lakehead's president as an example of someone with integrity, and makes reference to a number of other individuals for whom she has much admiration for.

"These are people who are willing to teach others, and the greatest thing about being influential is teaching others to be better than yourself and knowing when to hand over the reins," Lawson says.

Lawson says the influence of elders has been very important to her as a woman. That influence is what shows in the advice she hands out.

"I remember the people who gave me a chance, who said I could do it and that's the advice I give - never forget where you came from or who you met on the way up because you don't know who you'll meet on the way down," says Lawson.