First Nations youth poised to fly in the travel industry.

"This project has been two years in the making and finally it is a reality," says Chief Ted Quewezance of Keeseekoose First Nations, who has worked long and hard to create career opportunities for the First Nations youth of this province.

Representing the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN), Quewezance spearheaded a unique and mutually beneficial partnership between FSIN and P.Lawson Travel/Carlson Wagonlit Travel. No money exchanged hands. The deal was that First Nations youth receive first class training and career opportunities in the travel industry, while Carlson Wagonlit handle the travel needs of First Nations people in Saskatchewan - a sizeable clientele.

On March 1, the first 14 First Nations students set out on the Carlson Wagonlit Travel trail that will equip them to be professional travel counsellors and will open up an entire world of job opportunities.

The timing couldn't be better. First Nations have hitched their wagon to a superstar. P. Lawson Travel, with whom FSIN began partnership negotiations in 1993, has recently joined a global network of more than 4,000 travel agency locations in 125 countries with $15 billion in annual sales, and has officially changed its name to Carlson Wagonlit Travel.

"This is a win-win situation," says Alan Bromfield, Managing Director of Carlson Wagonlit Travel Canada. "With this (First Nations) program, we can serve our (First Nations) client and provide the added value of training future travel counsellors."

There were 85 applicants for the training program, screened down to 35, from which the 14 were selected, says Quewezance. "All …