For the first time in its history, a digital all-Island archive is going to be created in Haida Gwaii with support from a government-funded skills training project.

The Haida Gwaii Museum has received $40,971 in funding from the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation’s Community and Employer Partnerships fund to provide work experience to an archival assistant to compile historical data from the more than 150 different islands in the region.

Haida Gwaii’s historical records and artifacts are stored at three separate museums across the region – the Haida Gwaii Museum, the Port Clements Museum and the Dixon Entrance Maritime Museum. This project will change that and give people an unprecedented, all-encompassing view of Haida Gwaii’s history.

In 2015, the museum received $25,080 for a Job Creation Partnership to bring in one unemployed participant as archival assistant to re-organize the museum’s archives. Now, through this project, another archival assistant has been selected to put those archives into electronic form for the public to use and learn about Haida Gwaii’s history. Museum staff are also working on bringing in one more person to assist with the project.

The electronic exhibit will be posted on the museum’s recently launched website once the project is complete in April 2017. It will include digitized audio tapes, maps, photos and documents.

Throughout the project, the participant archival assistants will get hands-on experience in the museum archive process with the guidance of the museum director and gain employment skills they can add to their resumes and take into the industry to find full-time work.

Funding for the project is provided through the Job Creation Partnership stream of the Community and Employer Partnerships program.

Job Creation Partnerships are part of the Employment Program of British Columbia’s Community and Employer Partnerships, which fund projects that increase employability and share labour market information.

The Community and Employer Partnerships program is featured in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and provides more support to people who are struggling to gain a foothold in the job market. It helps build stronger partnerships with industry and labour to connect British Columbians with classroom and on-the-job training, while making it easier for employers to hire the skilled workers they need – when and where they need them.

To date, more than 1,000 job seekers benefited from work experience and more than 200 projects have been funded throughout the province.

Quotes:

Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation –

“It is important for all communities to have a way for their members to learn about the area’s history. I’m proud we are able to fund this project to provide people that opportunity as well as help two Haida Gwaii residents gain skills that will help them find full-time employment in the future.”

John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation –

“The ability to collect, combine, archive and share history preserves culture, especially when it can be digitized. By investing in archives staff and formats where history can easily be shared, we take steps to address recommendations from the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report to improve education and cultural awareness. This support will ensure the Haida Gwaii’s history is collected to be shared for years to come.”

Scott Marsden, executive director of the Haida Gwaii Museum –

“The Haida Gwaii Museum gratefully acknowledges the opportunity to participate in the Job Creation Partnership as it helps us build capacity in our community by offering on-the-job training and work experience to Haida community members.”

Quick Facts:

• The Haida Gwaii Museum opened in 1976 and continues to build an international reputation for showcasing Haida historical and contemporary art, all-Island artists and an outstanding collection of objects, artefacts and scientific material culture.
• Local WorkBC Employment Services Centres play a lead role in connecting eligible job seekers to Job Creation Partnership and Project Based Labour Market Training opportunities in their communities. Once the right match of client to project has been found, the effort of the WorkBC Centre continues by providing financial supports and services to ensure success.
• In 2016-17, the ministry has committed to investing $331 million in employment and labour market programs under the Employment Program of BC.
• The Employment Program of BC is funded by the Province of British Columbia as well as the Government of Canada through the Labour Market Development Agreement.
• Funding supports 84 WorkBC Employment Services Centres throughout the province and the four components of the Community and Employer Partnerships fund:
  • Job Creation Partnerships
  • Labour Market Partnerships
  • Project-Based Labour Market Training
  • Research and Innovation

Who is eligible for Community and Employer Partnerships funding?

• Businesses
• Non-profit organizations
• Crown corporations
• Municipalities, agencies or territorial governments
• Bands/tribal councils
• Public health and educational institutions

Learn More:

Take a look at the Haida Gwaii Museum: http://haidagwaiimuseum.ca/

For more information on Community and Employer Partnerships: www.workbc.ca/CEP

Find a local WorkBC Employment Services Centre: www.workbccentres.ca

Learn more about the Ministry of Social Development and Social Innovation: www.gov.bc.ca/sdsi

For more information on B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/skills

To find out more about the BC Jobs Plan: www.engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/