First Nations to receive skills training funding

First Nations in northeast B.C. will receive a $390,000 investment from the B.C. government to help participants build skills and explore careers in environmental stewardship and natural resource development.

The Environmental Technology Access Program is open to members from McLeod Lake, Nak’azdli Whut’en, Nadleh Whut’en, Saik’uz Stellat’en, Takla Lake, Tl’azt’en and Yekooche First Nations.

In a partnership between the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology and the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association (PGNAETA), the training will prepare up to 15 participants for employment in the natural resource sectors or post-secondary education in the environmental resource technology program.

Training will be offered in forestry, fishery enhancement, environmental assessment, mining, oil and gas and grassland ecology.

“By providing opportunities to build skills in the natural resource sectors, we are supporting Indigenous learners becoming stewards of the environment in their communities,” said Scott Fraser, minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.

“This is an investment in people and in improving the quality of life in Indigenous communities.”

Students will learn a variety of skills in areas including: tree and plant identification, soils identification, navigation skills, mapping skills, resource measurements and forest fire suppression.

“Supporting education and training is one of the ways our government is improving the lives of Indigenous people in British Columbia,” said Melanie Mark, minister of Advanced Educa- tion, Skills and Training. “It is a priority for our government to make sure future generations are ready to engage in the workforce and build thriving careers to support themselves and their families.”

The program is funded through the province’s Indigenous Skills Training Development Fund and is designed to provide education and transferable skills that fit the needs of individual communities.

The fund is providing up to $30 million over three years to support community-driven skills training and education as identified by indigenous communities.

Over the past two years, more than 2,700 indigenous people have accessed training through projects supported by the fund, the government said. Of the people trained in 2015-16, a total of 52 per cent have found employment and about 21 per cent have gone on to further their training and/or education.