Connecting First Nations members to skills training and jobs. That’s something Tara Alfred works to achieve every day. 

A Wet'suwet'en First Nations member, Tara is an Aboriginal Skills Navigator with the New Relationship Trust. Based in Burns Lake, Tara works to co-ordinate improved access to skills training and employment opportunities for six First Nations in Northern B.C.

“My goals for the Burns Lake region are to continue building relationships to gain a better understanding of the skills training services that are available and needed in First Nations communities,” says Tara. “I want to help ensure that the desired training can be delivered and that we are improving overall skills capacity within those communities.” 

In June, Tara helped co-ordinate and do marketing for a jobs fair with the Wet'suwet'en First Nation in Burns Lake. Over 360 people attended the two-day event, which had 38 booths and companies from all over B.C. in attendance.    

Tara is also working closely with post-secondary institutions like the College of New Caledonia to identify opportunities for the college and other post-secondary institutions to deliver skills training within First Nations communities and expand job-related programs. She is a strong advocate for having the college and other post-secondary organizations delivering skills training within First Nations communities and expanding job-related programs.

One of the recent projects she’s been working on is a proposal for a trades explorer course. The course would feature one week of classroom learning and a second week of hands-on introductory training to four trades: welder, carpenter, millwright and electrician.  Essential skills training and upgrading would also be provided.    

Introduced in January, the Aboriginal Labour Market Community Navigators project is designed to help more Aboriginal people in B.C. benefit from skills training and related job opportunities—especially in the growing resource 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 coordinator 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 Tara and the other navigators will provide services to nearly 50 First Nations communities annually. 

Throughout northern B.C., the resource sector is expected to be a powerful job generator in the years ahead and the areas Tara works.  Rural and remote communities will benefit directly from the creation of thousands of well-paying jobs close to home.