For 14 First Nations students, March 15, 2017, was a special day as they celebrated their graduation from the two-year Stewardship Technicians Training Program in partnership with Vancouver Island University.

The Province of British Columbia and the Lax Kw’alaams Band have reached multiple agreements to ensure benefits accrue for First Nations as a result of the construction and operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export industry in the Prince Rupert area.

Up to 205 First Nations people in communities stretching from Prince George to Fort Nelson will benefit from new skills-training opportunities designed to spark careers in trades and technical jobs such as carpentry, piping, welding, carpentry, machining and electrical.

The Province is increasing funding for First Nations clean-energy projects by approximately $2.1 million over three years as part of its commitment to action on climate change.

Federal and provincial ministers, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, John Rustad, Mary Polak, with Mayor John Helin, of the Lax Kw’alaams Band and Harold Leighton, Chief Councillor of the Metlakatla First Nation, announced an Agreement on Environmental Monitoring of the proposed Pacific NorthWest LNG Project. This is the first agreement of its kind between the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, the Lax Kw’alaams Band and the Metlakatla First Nation.

The B.C. government is counting down to Moose Hide Campaign Day on February 16, 2017 by encouraging men throughout the BC Public Service and members of the Legislative Assembly to participate in the B.C.-born campaign to stop violence against women and girls.

Ensuring more Aboriginal people have access to skills training opportunities and jobs related to the liquefied natural gas sector is a key goal of new skills training projects developed with the Doig River First Nation.