Day 2 Sessions

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Session 1: Building Supply Side Capacity for Trades Training in Northern Manitoba Aboriginal Communities

Wuskwatim and Keeyask Training Consortium
Joan Harris-Warren, Project Director
Anastasia Babynec, Communications Coordinator

What does “building supply side capacity” really mean? Innovative partnerships have enabled Aboriginal communities in northern Manitoba to propel 150 of their members into the designated trades. The Wuskwatim and Keeyask Training Consortium will outline what it takes to plug these new learners into the apprenticeship system. Learn about strategies for supporting apprentices and employers to work together for shared success.

Session 2: Red Crow Community College’s New Approach to the Trades

Red Crow Community College
Jonathan Weiss, Skills Investment Grant Program / MOBIUS Coordinator, Trades Program Coordinator

Since 1986, Red Crow Community College has grown a reputation for assisting Aboriginal men and women in achieving their educational and employment goals. This model for success is the core of the “Nitsitapitapiwa: Aboriginal Pre-Apprenticeship Program,” where innovative delivery methods saw 80% of the students who completed the program pass their Entrance Level exams. The model supports Aboriginal people to learn to cope and survive at work, school, and in the real world. The confidence that comes with success gives these learners opportunity to enhance their quality of life and increase their value to educators, employers, and the community. The program stresses multiple outcomes rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, giving students clear choices to seek employment, enroll in further skills training, or advance their education.

Session 3: Creation of an Aboriginal Professional Training Centre: Satellite School

Mohawk Council of Kahnawake
Kenneth McComber, Chief & Conseil de bande des Montagnais du Lac-Saint-Jean
Marjolaine Étienne

Integrating Aboriginals into the Quebec construction industry requires professional training, however many Aboriginal people face geographic and economic barriers to accessing these opportunities. Leaving your family and community for up to 18 months, learning new systems and integrating into a new environment often leads to high dropout and failure rates. The project to create an Aboriginal professional training centre for construction and associated trades has the goal of creating a centre with no infrastructure with a mission to buy courses from existing professional training centres and bring them to Aboriginal students. From coaching services to employment follow-up, the centre will support students in on-the-job training and ongoing professional development. This innovative approach to importing education rather than exporting our youth may eventually allow us to serve as a “host community” to accommodate Aboriginal students from other communities, even other nations.

Session 4: Working Together To Build a Strong Aboriginal Workforce

Nunatsiavut Government
Theresa Hollett, Impact and Benefit Agreement Coordinator

When the Voisey’s Bay mining project began operations in 2005, the Nunatsiavut Government and Vale Inco came together with the shared goal of building a strong Aboriginal workforce. Strategies to recruit Aboriginal employees, train them and provide job experience have resulted in a stable workforce made up of more than 50 per cent Innu and Inuit workers. Discover how this partnership exposes Aboriginal individuals to career choices with school visits, scholarships and work terms and retains employees with cross-cultural awareness programs and elders visits. Hear about the importance of progression planning and advancement policies that keep our workforce strong.

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Four Concurrent Sessions (Break out rooms)

Session 1: Aboriginal People in the Minerals Sector

British Columbia Institute of Technology
James Morin, Aboriginal Minerals Training Program

Training Aboriginal workers helps improve the socio-economic health of Aboriginal communities and meet the growing human resource needs in the minerals sector. British Columbia Institute of Technology in partnership with the Association of Mineral Exploration BC has developed an approach that combines 2-day, 2-week and 15-week courses that work progressively to attract Aboriginal high school students. The 2-day Community Awareness is delivered directly to communities with existing or potential mineral sector interests, outlining an overview of mining and a field excursion to local geological points of interest. The 2-week course is covers prospecting with a focus on Aboriginal interests and exposes students to the employment opportunities in the Mining industry. Building on this, students take a 15-week course (split up into 5-week blocks) to earn an Associate Certificate in Minerals Discovery. Essential skills are stressed and the program’s laddering sequence works to support students to seek employment directly while encouraging them to complete high school and pursue a trades or academic path.

Session 2: Specific agreements between the Aboriginal communities and the construction industry: The case of the Cree

Commission de la construction du Québec
Édith Garneau, Conseillère au PDG – affaires autochtones & Compagnie
Robert Baribeau

For years access to trades training, as regulated by the Commission de la Construction du Québec (CCQ), gave priority to vocational diploma graduates. Aboriginal people often face barriers to education which exclude them from opportunities, even when major development projects take place on traditional lands. Working with the unions and employer associations, the CCQ has adopted special measures for the inclusion of Aboriginal workers without the diploma requirement, creating new opportunities. Learn how on-the-job training and professional development are creating success stories in Cree communities around James Bay.

Session 3: BC Aboriginal Apprenticeship Strategy

Industry Training Authority
Gary McDermott, Director of Aboriginal Apprenticeship

The Industry Training Authority (ITA) has set a target to increase the participation of Aboriginal people in apprenticeship in BC by 100% over 3 fiscal years. To achieve this ambitious goal ITA brought aboard a Director of Aboriginal Apprenticeship and began researching solutions. Discover a process that links key demographic information about BC’s Aboriginal communities, their knowledge of the apprenticeship system, and promising practices and programs that support Aboriginal success in apprenticeship. You will also learn about the challenges industry faces in recruitment and retention of Aboriginal apprentices and discover an inventory of resources and available supports that help Aboriginal apprentices thrive. Pick up tips and tools from ITA’s efforts to develop a strategy, engage their stakeholders, and develop a plan for the future.

Session 4: Trades Training

Trade Winds to Success Training Society
Deborah Munroe, Rachel White & Mary Collins

This workshop focuses on job retention and trades mentorship. Participants are encouraged to share their experiences and tools for assisting clients to achieve success in their apprenticeship experience. “Trade Winds to Success” is an Aboriginal Skills & Employment Partnership (ASEP) pre-apprenticeship program which is designed to assist Aboriginal People to become trained apprentices in one of six high demand trades. Trade Winds provides a foundation for Aboriginal apprenticeship by providing essential skills and trades mentoring tied to guaranteed employment for successful clients with the union of their choice. Find out how this unique approach builds lasting results and encourages job retention. Share in our success stories and lessons learned.

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Conference Wrap-Up / Closing – Plenary

Announce Exhibit Bingo Winners
Closing Prayer

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