National Aboriginal Trades Symposium 2008

Building a Skilled and Untapped Apprenticeship Resource

Trades Symposium Builds Bridges

 As delegates from across Canada streamed into the Victoria Conference Centre for the first ever National Aboriginal Trades Symposium, they were joined by 120 participants from our sister event the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. After a powerful opening prayer by Elder Greg Sam the audience enjoyed a performance by the internationally-acclaimed Le La La Dancers. Dan DeWolf from Norquest College and his two students with the Essential Skills pilot program offered their stories and taught us that the challenge is not so steep – give them the supports they need, treat them with respect and watch their spirits soar.

Former Lac La Ronge Chief and retired welder Harry Cook spoke about the partnerships with mining companies that brought jobs and sustainable economic development to his band. CBC Radio host and author Serge Bouchard gave the audience a history lesson in Aboriginal cultures, challenging us to teach our children the real history of this country, warts and all. How can we move forward if we do not acknowledge the history of exclusion? Who is telling our stories so we never forget?

Mike Holmes offered his vision for a new kind of education that looks to the future. Mike spoke of the mistake of building ‘just to code’ and challenged the audience to set our targets high and strive for a higher level. Mike spoke of teaching the next generation to dream big rather than settle for what’s easy.

Through concurrent sessions and keynotes we discovered how:

• Labour unions have partnered with the Quebec Cree in James Bay to create real opportunities for jobs and training that are making real social change.
• Women Building Futures in Edmonton are bringing more Aboriginal women to the skilled trades with a unique residence and training centre.
• The Kahnawake and Commission de la construction de Quebec are partnering on a model for a unique professional training centre that removes barriers by bringing the education to the communities that need it most.

 Among the many highlights was a private reception at the stunning Royal BC Museum’s First Peoples Gallery, where delegates networked to the sounds of the Mykal Gambull Band and the flavours of wonderful local cuisine. Surrounded by thousands of years of history and two-hundred present day heroes, there was a renewed pride that the work we do, the future we are building, is well worth the sacrifices we all make.

The symposium began with the call for a national framework to advance Aboriginal participation in the trades. As council CEO and President Kelly Lendsay closed the symposium he stressed this need to remember the big picture. This is not a simple goal, but then again, this is not a simple problem. As we go back to our communities, to our colleagues, to the clients we serve, let us not lose sight of this vision to bring opportunities to all First Nation, Métis and Inuit people so that they can continue to build on the dreams of their ancestors, to remove barriers and bring pride to their work in the trades.