For 27 year-old Curtis Young-Mercer, being an Aboriginal skills Navigator is both highly challenging and personally rewarding. A member of the Nisga’a and Gitxsan Nations, Curtis holds a degree in Business Administration from Vancouver Island University, specializing in management and marketing.

Based in Terrace, Curtis is on the road two to three times a week and often travels great distances to reach some of the 13 First Nations communities he serves.

Working at the community level, Curtis conducts workshops and one-on-one meetings in First Nations communities along B.C.’s north coast. Together with community representatives he helps co-ordinate skills training opportunities for their members.

“Most of the First Nations communities I work with want to see more essential skills training and adult basic education,” says Curtis. “Improved literacy, math, and resume writing are some of the core skills they are after as well as more advanced job training.”

Launched in January, the Aboriginal Labour Market Community Navigator project is designed to support Aboriginal people in B.C. in accessing and benefiting from skills training and related job opportunities—especially in the LNG sector. The program is receiving $3.5 million in funding over the next three years.

The funds are being provided by the federal government to the New Relationship Trust which manages the program. Through it, seven Navigators and one co-ordinator are helping Aboriginal people gain better access to training and jobs in growing industrial sectors.

In conjunction with B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, it is anticipated that Curtis and the other navigators will provide services to nearly 50 First Nations communities annually. The emerging liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector is expected to be a powerful job generator throughout northern B.C. and the areas Curtis works. Through the development of B.C.’s LNG sector, First Nations, rural and remote communities will benefit directly from the creation of thousands of well-paying jobs close to home.

The Navigators liaise with First Nations communities, training organizations and industry to link skills training directly with emerging job opportunities. They also work with unemployed community members to assist them in getting them job ready and make recommendations on how to close skills gaps at the community level.

“Once we know what their goals are and what drives the individuals within the communities, we can connect them with key organizations or training institutions and help them build capacity throughout their community,” Curtis says.

His other duties include meeting individuals and their families to identify their goals and objectives; providing advice and information about available services; building relationships and connections within First Nations communities; and networking with regional training institutions regarding community-based training, apprenticeships and trades training programs.

Aboriginal youth are B.C.’s fastest-growing demographic and a vital part of B.C.’s future workforce. They are also a strong focus for Curtis and the other navigators. One of the most satisfying parts of his new job is watching young people find success.

“Younger kids can often be overlooked and ensuring they have the right training and employment opportunities is a high priority for all of us,” he says.