The Skin Tyee First Nation and Nee Tahi Buhn Band have launched a job skills training project that will provide up to 50 community members with increased opportunities for employment and apprenticeships.

The project has a strong focus on foundational training, trades career exploration and safety certificates that will help to prepare participants for successful transition to college-level trades training and apprenticeships. Training courses include: 

• Land stewardship
• Hospitality, food service
• Carpentry apprenticeship
• Plumbing apprenticeship
• Electrical apprenticeship
• Trades discovery program

Provincial funding of $300,000 for this skills training project is provided through B.C.’s Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund which is investing up to $30 million over three years in Indigenous skills training projects and partnerships.

Offering community-driven skills training is one part of the Province’s efforts to include First Nations communities and Indigenous people in new LNG sector opportunities. The Province is also working with First Nations communities on environmental stewardship priorities and financial benefits agreements.

Quotes:

John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation –

“Supporting work-related training that leads to good, sustainable jobs is a priority for our government and this project will open doors to career opportunities for members of the Skin Tyee First Nation and Nee Tahi Buhn Band.”

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister responsible for Labour –

“Investing in initiatives for Aboriginal people is a key commitment of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint. Aboriginal youth are the fastest growing demographic in the province with half under the age of 25, and with the almost one million job openings on the horizon, programs  like these will provide them with the skills training and work experience necessary to find their fit in our diverse, strong and growing economy.”

Chief Rene Skin, Skin Tyee First Nation –

“I am encouraged to see the Province is committed to funding our communities in the training of our members in meaningful, transferable skills for the second year. As a result, we look forward to trained individuals that will be Guardians of the Land and employable individuals in the hospitality and trades sectors. We are very pleased that LDATES, our training society, is providing training to meet the employment needs of the community and area. ”

Quick Facts:

• Aboriginal people are a priority in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint.
• A key target of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint is to increase Aboriginal workforce participation by 15,000 new Aboriginal workers by 2024.
• During the past year, more than 1,200 First Nations members received training through programs supported by the Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund.  Another 1,000 will be trained in 2016-17.

Learn More:

Skin Tyee First Nation: www.wetsuweten.com/communities/skin-tyee/

Nee Tahi Buhn Band: www.wetsuweten.com/communities/nee-tahi-buhn/

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/skills

The BC Jobs Plan: engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/