RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE RUSSELL DEBASSIGE
Russell Debassige
Firstly introduce yourself and tell us where your home place is. Describe your job/jobs in just under four sentences. Please also provide your title and profession.
I am an Indigenous youth from M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. I have worked for Hollandia landscaping as a “Skilled Laborer” for the past 3 years and graduated from Fifth Wheel with tickets to become a legally certified Heavy Machinery Operator.
What sparked your interest to work in this industry?
I like working with my hands on equipment and meeting new people, I also have a lot of family who works in this industry so I felt it would be a good fit to make the right connections. There is good money to be made to build the home and life I want too so I will stay for as long as I can.
What do you enjoy most about your profession?
I enjoy the ability to move, be outside, and learn something new every day.
What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?
I would recommend people go to college and take something in Trades, most trades are good money and opportunity for people who want to work up north and have time to see friends or family. Make sure you read up on your machinery and study hard.
What does success look like to you for Indigenous youth?
The ability to live comfortably and learn about your culture from a young age.
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success?
There was an opportunity to get a new job that paid more but I decided to stay with my current company to keep gaining the experience and knowledge necessary to expand my skills as I know it looks good on a resume to gain years of experience through one company.
What are one to three books that have greatly influenced your life?
One book that has greatly influenced my life would be Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice because it reminds me of what life could be like if we did not depend on the government to live. I hope I learn and do enough to survive on my own if ever needed and this book inspired that.
Do you volunteer? If so, where and why is that important to you?
I volunteer with my sister as a driver when needed for her youth collective work. I’d also like to learn more about volunteering at my old highschool for their basketball team.
In the last year, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
Being confident enough to say how I feel good or bad has enhanced all the relationships in my life. I also wake up early for work every day which has helped my lifestyle.
What are some challenges you think the next Indigenous generation will face in your industry/profession?
The pandemic has made accessing mental health support very hard. I think if people don’t take the steps to learn their own self-care it will be detrimental to every industry, not just the one I work in. Discrimination in the education system is tough to deal with so be mindful and work hard throughout.
What advice would you give to a smart, driven student about to enter the “real world”? What advice should they ignore?
Be yourself no matter what anyone says or does, there will be people that judge you or not like you but you can’t control that. There is a lot you cannot control so give it 100% even if you feel like 10%.