Sixteen Métis participants in the Lower Mainland have the opportunity to create a brighter future for themselves, their families and their community, with the launch of the Métis Community Support Worker program. 

“This partnership, between the University of the Fraser Valley and Métis Nation British Columbia, is helping Métis students get training and education close to home and close to their support systems,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “We’re making education and training much more accessible by investing in programs and supports that help learners succeed as they take steps toward their future. With over 917,000 jobs coming up in the next 10 years, everyone has a place in our economy.”

Métis Nation BC is partnering with the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) for the delivery of a community support worker certificate. The $691,000 in funding, over three years, will be provided under the Aboriginal Community-Based Training Partnerships Program.

“This program will help Métis participants get the skills and knowledge they need to find secure and meaningful employment, while giving back to their community,” said MNBC president Clara Morin-Dal Col. “The Métis Community Support Worker program will respect and honour Métis culture by creating an ethical space for teaching, learning and incorporating Indigenous ways of knowing within a university setting. We look forward to delivering a program that celebrates our culture and makes a difference in the lives of Métis people in B.C.”

The program will help learners complete their adult upgrading and post-secondary courses, leading to a certificate as a social and community support worker. Learners will benefit from a full range of educational and wraparound services, including cultural elements and Elder supports, to ensure student success.

“The University of the Fraser Valley is proud to partner with Métis Nation British Columbia to deliver the Métis Community Support Worker program,” said Jackie Hogan, president of UFV. “The opportunity to work together in the development and delivery of such an important and culturally relevant curriculum is an exciting way for UFV to continue our partnerships with the diverse communities we serve.”

Métis Nation British Columbia is one of more than 40 communities throughout B.C. that will benefit from the Aboriginal Community-Based Training Partnerships Program, which will provide $21.1 million over three years. The purpose of the program is to provide Indigenous learners with the post-secondary education and training to further their education and obtain sustainable employment.

The program funding is provided by the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada, through the Canada-British Columbia Job Fund. Investing in programs like these is consistent with B.C.’s commitment to true, lasting reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action.

Learn More:

For more information on Indigenous education and training including the Aboriginal Community-Based Training Partnerships Program:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/post-secondary-education/aboriginal-education-training