b'STUDENT STORIESSETTING THE COURSE THROUGH STUDENT STORIESA conversation with Grady CoutuBy Brandon MeawasigeW hen charting the coursehad the pleasure of sitting downappointed the National Chair of for our collectivewith a young man who, by allthe Indigenous Employee Resource future, it is crucialmeasures, has the type of storyGroup at HSBC. that we create space for studentthat fuels our organizations work. In the spirit of this issue, Coutu and voices and listen closely to theirGrady Coutu is Mtis, bornI spoke about the role that educa-stories. It is through their journeysand raised in Prince Albert,tors played in his success story, and successes that we will findSaskatchewan;he currently workssome of the challenges he faced the answers to many importantin Vancouver for HSBC Canada,during his journey, and the impor-questionsboth inside the classroom and beyond. Recently Ia major supporter of Indspire, intance of a good support system. Global Cash Management. While pursuing a Bachelor of CommerceAs an Indigenous student, what in Finance at the Universitywere some things that you wish of Saskatchewan, Coutu waseducators could have known?Indigenous students supported by a Building BrighterI wish I learned more about the are an important part of Futures scholarship in his finaltrue history of Indigenous peoples Sask Polytechs community.year of university. He also joinedand Canada. Like many Canadian We have reserved seats in all programs and 200+the Rivers to Success mentorshipstudents, I was shown a condensed student awards for Indigenousprogram and was paired withand rosy version of the history of students. Advisors Mahomed Taibo from HSBC.Canada, which I know now was and coordinators areavailable to help you settleIt was through his relationship withnot exactly accurate. Prince Albert into student life. Taibo that Coutu found the supportand the surrounding area has a and mentorship that helped withrich First Nation and Mtis history his resume, interviewing, andthat we learned very little about professional development, culmi- in elementary and high school. I nating in his selection to be partalso wish we had more exposure of the 2019 Graduate Program atto Indigenous culture and history HSBC. Recently having completedfrom other parts of Canada related the two-year program, and nowto all groups of Indigenous peoples; saskpolytech.ca/Indigenousworking full-time in the GlobalI think Inuit are often forgotten in Banking Sales team, he has beenthese conversations. 20indspiration2021'