Uukturniq Nalunaqtuanun Inuusim Testing the Waters of Life

ONFebruary 11th, 2021, TC Energy announced a two-year partnership with PLATO Testing—Canada’s only Indigenous sofware testing company. It involves an investment of $200,000 to support the training of Indigenous Sofware Testers, which PLATO employs to provide a diverse level of support for clients across North America. This news comes a month afer another announcement by Indigenous investment frm Raven Indigenous Capital Partners to invest $500,000 into PLATO Testing.

Sofware testing (also called Quality Assurance/QA) is a growing job market within the IT industry (Information Technology). In today’s world, sofware powers nearly everything we use on a daily basis, from our smart phones to its applications, whether social media, music players, instant messaging, or games. Sofware testing is important as sofware “bugs” can be expensive—or even dangerous. One chilling example of sofware failure having serious repercussions was when a China Airlines A300 plane crashed due to a sofware failure on April 26, 1994, killing 264 innocent lives.

In this new world of COVID-19 with global restrictions, sofware development and testing have shown that a remote-centric workspace is not only possible, but can be productive as well. Sofware testers need a quality internet connection, allowing remote work to be more possible than ever before. In essence, jobs can be brought to Indigenous communities across the country, as long as the internet infrastructure is adequate enough. This is where PLATO comes in.

Striving to build a network of 1,000 Indigenous sofware testers across Canada, PLATO employs more than 30 full- time Indigenous sofware testers. PLATO Testing has ofces in or near Indigenous communities in Fredericton, Miramichi, Sault Ste. Marie, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver. The combined investments totaling $700,000 will ensure the growth of PLATO through future training classes, and assist PLATO to attain their goal.

PLATO Testing was created by Keith McIntosh, who is also the CEO of PQA, which was founded in 1997. Keith came up with the idea of PLATO in response to the 92nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call to Action on jobs and training.

PLATO and PQA provide sofware testers of all levels to companies around the world. PLATO and PQA both aim to fll a hole in the sofware industry by keeping jobs in Canada, and training Indigenous people to fll these jobs.

I was blessed to be part of Southern Alberta’s frst PLATO class, which was held in Calgary from September 2019 to February 2020. This class was the frst 20-week course that the company held. Each class built of the previous one, as there are no post-secondary institutions teaching sofware testing specifcally. The course evolves as the industry and the world itself evolves. Many Computer Science programs will have a section on testing—also known in the IT industry as QA (Quality Assurance)—but the programs do not go into as much detail as the PLATO course. The course is certifed and accredited by Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB). Graduates of the program receive a Certifcate in Sofware and are ofered a job within PLATO as a Junior Sofware Tester. The format of the program is 20 weeks of in-class training and then 12 weeks of on-the-job training in the form of a paid internship within an organization. The in-class portion consists of daily exercises and projects, as well as weekly exams. Guest speakers are also invited to visit the class and share experiences, so students are able to learn more about the industry and the job itself.

I myself was a guest speaker to the class on January 18th, 2021, speaking to the frst virtual PLATO class between two diferent cities: Regina and Sault Ste. Marie. It was surreal speaking to people who were sitting where I was a year ago.

But, how did I get to where I am now, PLATO’s 2020 “Rookie of the Year”? It has been quite the journey.

IAM the oldest of three children; I have a brother, Brian, who lives in Toronto with his wife Wakako and his children Kazuki and Ayumi. The baby of my family is my sister, Stephanie, whom I live with in Airdrie along with her two daughters Ariel and Andrina, as well as her partner Craig. My father Frank is a Residential School survivor from Iñuuvik and my mother Judy was raised on a farm in a village just outside of Winnipeg. My parents met in the Iñuuvik Hospital in the 1970s when they both worked there. Dad was a porter and Mom was a nurse.

I was born in Edmonton and raised in Calgary, with a couple of years living in Norman Wells when I was very young. My entire life I had no idea about the residential school system until the Truth & Reconciliation Committee released their fndings to the world. When I was growing up my dad called his school a “boarding school”. The fact that these schools were still in operation while I was in high school troubled me greatly. My father was the frst Dillon to fnish school. Not only did he graduate high school, he went on to complete college in Edmonton, before becoming an accountant with Imperial Oil. The older I get, the more I realize I am truly my father’s son, following in his footsteps of furthering my education and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Business, as well as being told ofen how we look very similar.

From a young age, I wanted to be Prime Minister of Canada. I wrote poetry from the age of 10, maybe even earlier. I enjoyed playing sports and was able to learn new sports and skills easily. Needless to say, I have always been an eclectic person—one might even say eccentric.

When I graduated high school, I was a manager of a fast-food chain, so I decided to stay working as opposed to going to college or university. Afer 3 years I decided it was time to pursue my childhood dreams. The route I decided to take was to get a Criminology degree, and then a Law degree, fguring I would have a network large enough to enter politics. Needless to say, the image in my head did not turn into reality, and with one semester away from graduating, I essentially dropped out.

I went back into managing restaurants for a few years, but in the year 2000 I felt the need to fnish what I had started and went back to Mount Royal College (now MRU) to fnish my Criminology degree. To my chagrin I discovered I would need to start from scratch as they had changed the program, so I entered into Business School. My frst semester I attended a pres- entation from the University of Lethbridge. I discovered their International Management Degree Program and decided sitting there in that room that this was the path for me—as it included a semester abroad.

I completed my Diploma in Business Administration in 2005 and immediately moved to Lethbridge to earn my Bachelors of International Management at the University of Lethbridge. This program included many presentations, mainly in groups. I had gained a reputation of being able to fnd errors within presentations, which earned me a hand-picked spot to be on the Debate Team for the University of Lethbridge’s JDC West team. JDC stands for “Jeux de Commerce” which is a series of business competitions in Accounting, Marketing, Strategy, Human Resources, International Business, and Debate—parliamentary style. It was an amazing experience that certifed my love for public speaking.

In 2007, I went to Belgium to study for my last semester. Things did not work according to my plan and I had to return to Lethbridge before the semester started, which lef me heartbroken. I had planned and prepared for Belgium for close to 5 years. I completed my last semester in Lethbridge and received my Bachelors of Management Degree.

In 2008, the world was in a recession. Most companies were not hiring, so my Business Degree was not the powerhouse I had expected it to be. Over the next few years, I held jobs in pawn shops, oil and gas safety, accounting, and business administration. I was even a civilian member of the RCMP as a Telecommunications Operator—handling 911 and non-emergency RCMP calls and dispatch for Southern Alberta. This job took a physical and mental toll on me; the stress of handling the daily calls manifested in physical illnesses and high levels of anxiety. I eventually found myself working as a temp for one company over 7 years, bouncing back and forth from oil and gas.

A Near Death Experience

In 2015, I had a near death experience. At the time of this experience, I had been unemployed for over a year, and I was about to go on Social Assistance as the job market at this time was once again tough. The location of this experience was Fernie, BC, during the August long weekend, on a day where the temperature was well over 30 degrees Celsius.

I was foating down the Elk river when I was sucked under the water by a whirlpool/undertow and was pinned underneath by a mess of deadfall full of big trees, branches and other debris. I did not panic and had one breath in my lungs. With this breath I tried all ways to get out from the debris and back above water so I could breathe. I was unsuccessful.

I cannot logically explain how I was saved, as nobody was around me and I had tons of weight between me and the surface of the water. This moment once again could easily be written into a book itself. I was quickly informed by a local guide that they had lost three people that summer at the same location.

All I will say is that I am here, I am above the water and I am breathing. This event had a profound efect on me. Within the next couple of years, I became a Reiki Master/teacher, Medium, Healer, and some have called me Shaman. The person who wanted to be Prime Minister and spend his life in the political arena had died in the river. The man that came out is one who practices compassion, empathy, love and healing, spreading light everywhere instead of darkness.

Trusting The Universe

I eventually obtained what I thought was my dream job, fnally utilizing my bachelor’s degree in International Business within a national company. It became a nightmare and I learned that anyone at any age can be subjected to bullying and abuse by their manager. This was in May 2019. Faced with a toxic work environment, my mental and physical health began to quickly deteriorate. Afer careful consideration and deliberation, I decided to follow my own advice that I had given to people in that same situation— leave what is not good for you. Trust the Universe. Trust that what is meant for you will fnd you. I walked away from the job I once thought was made for me. I had nothing to fall back on. No savings, no other job—nothing but faith. I spent that summer picking up odd jobs such as a delivery driver to make ends meet. I was working 7 days a week so I can pay my bills and feed myself. I was burning out.

I then asked the Universe: Where do I go from here? Within days I was forwarded an ad for PLATO Testing. The ad asked any Indigenous people in the Calgary area to apply to their program, stating that they would provide training over 20 weeks, then place you in an internship, and, if successful, a full-time job would be ofered. My logical brain doubted the authenticity and thought it was too good to be true. But, afer an interview, I was accepted into the program. When I walked into the class on the frst day and saw television crews as well as senior managers from companies like Suncor and Westjet, I fnally realized that this was real. I put in the time and efort to learn something I never knew beforehand and graduated as one of the top students in the class.

Since that frst day in class, I had an internship at Westjet, learned new testing skills, utilized these skills on various websites, and was awarded PLATO’s Rookie of the Year 2020. I am entering my sixth month in this current contract for a client based in Boston and I absolutely love my job. Life has had its ups and downs, but keeping the faith and respecting myself and others has gifed me with wonderful moments. I am constantly learning and that will never change.

My name is Scott Dillon. I am an Inuvialuk sofware tester working for PLATO Testing. I have many stories to share, and I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. Quyanainni. Thank you.

AK Ł ARVIK, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

"We seen the rink here and James Blake said to me we should have a 3-on-3 tournament. So, we planned it and talked about it, and [in October 2020] we put one together. All the community came out [and] enjoyed the cookout. We had hamburgers, hotdogs, and juice boxes, donated from community members and Stantons, [as well as] volunteers from [the] Hamlet and Recreation. It was a good turnout! This Wednesday 3-on-3 hockey tournament was sponsored by the Aklavik Community Corporation (ACC) with the Chair and staf volunteering with the cookout. Thank you to all the volunteers who came out to help and especially the youth. It’s good spirit for the community, with the pandemic going on…it’s something that will get people out of their houses and out to watch everybody have fun. Especially the young ones, the youth—they’re enjoying themselves. I hope we get maybe one more, if the weather stays nice.” —Eddie

Greenland

UQAUHIIT ELLEN V. LEAPLU, LOIS A. HARWOODLU, IQALUNGNIKKUT TAGIUNANI CANADAMI

KANGIKYUARMIUTUN NUMIKTITAIT HELEN KITEKUDLAUM

WORDS by ELLEN V. LEA AND LOIS A. HARWOOD1 , FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA

KANGIRYUARMIUTUN TRANSLATION BY HELEN KITEKUDLAK