Preparing for
planning and operational jobs and long term employment
BURNS
LAKE, BC Nov 07- The Competitive Edge Initiative Towards Full Time Employment (CEITFTE) group has been attending
the College of New Caledonia, Burns Lake campus, to obtain their Grade 12
diploma. Then, they will be taking the Economic Development training, which is
under the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) of Merritt, B. C., to
become Native Development Officers.
The group
initially started with 15 students, now down to 8, which are, Sharon Alec,
Bertha Michell, Eric Michell, William George, Ramona Williams, Ruby Tom, Shane
Tom and David Finlay, who is the spokesman for the group.
Some of
the students came from different communities such as Woyenne, Tachet and Fort
Babine, B. C., and to them David Finlay emphasizes, “not to quit, just stick it
out. We have to finish what we started, because this group is precedence.” Each
student of the group is establishing a Business Plan such as Tire Repair Shop,
Boat Building Shop, Native Traditional Cuisine Restaurant, Gas Bar and First
Nations Clothing Store.
It takes
about two years before a Business Plan is approved by the Tribal Resources
Investment Corporation (TRICORP) in Prince Rupert, B. C. David says, “Working
on our team skills and working together as one is instilled in our upgrading
and the first 10 weeks of training.” Furthermore, he mentions, “We support each
other as best we can, but, living on Social Assistance is not enough and
doesn’t even cover my living expenses.”
He tried
to find a fix and faxed the attendance records to the Lake Babine Nation office
and they contacted Karen Hunt, Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment
& Training Association (PGNAETA). Hence the group will be paid a training
allowance of $50.00 per week. As David reiterated, “It is only $50.00 a week,
but it gives us something.”
He reiterates
that, “We’ve got to get better for each member in the group, otherwise they’re
going to drop out.” Furthermore they are hopeful the funding will be
established to set up Economic Development offices within the communities of
Woyenne, Tachet, Fort Babine, Old Fort and Pinkut Lake Development Society
(Donald s Landing, Augier-Talapin Lake). As David mentions, a fully operational
and modern office on each of the reserves will serve the members better. He
stresses being right here on the reserve.
David
says that, “We are one of
the biggest reserves in B. C. but, economically we’ve got nothing for ourselves
and we have to change that,” adding, “and finally get some recognition and
economic development happening on our reserves. One of the initiatives for the
group is skills upgrading and training for the Pacific Broker Minerals, which
will be opening in August of 2008.”
The
various jobs will be 14 apprenticeships, First Aid Attendants, Equipment
Operators, and Service Providers. As David says, it is premium quality
employment, “No down time, so get certified and ready to go to work.”
Since
July of 2007, the group had been fund-raising through bingos to attend the
Council for Advancement of Native Development Officers (CANDO) conference,
which was held in Kamloops, B. C., on October 22-25, 2007. There were about 500
delegates from different First Nations communities such as Australia, North and
South Dakota, Montreal, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Alberta.
At the
CANDO conference, the youths are being profiled; get rewards each year for
Economic Development Success Stories, get apprenticeships, trades and programs
for their bands. As David reiterates, they are giving the younger generation a
good kick start to their careers. Once they graduate, there are so many doors
open for them. The group will continue fund-raising for the next CANDO
conference, which will be held in Montreal, Quebec.
In June
of 2008, there will be youth conference in Victoria, B. C to focus on
apprenticeships and trades. The group will try and establish a youth panel by
contacting high school students within the Village of Burns Lake, B. C. He They
hope for Ruby Tom and Shane Tom to network with all of the younger generation
of the Lake Babine Nation, because every group has to establish a Youth Panel.
As David
mentions, A lot of the other reserves have their groups and they have a Youth
Group as well. The youth are the future and they need to participate in this.
He advises the young people out there, “Finish your school, I’m 42 years old
and I just went back to school, to try and get my Dogwood (diploma
certification from High School). Furthermore he stresses, When you get your
grade 12 it opens allot of doors. And we need the younger generation, to pursue
careers, get certificates and be educated, because that s the way of the
future.” Written Nov 22 07.
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