Government of British Columbia : Improving workplace skills to achieve job success

FORT NELSON - A new, community-based skills training and adult education project for the Prophet River First Nation will help Indigenous participants overcome job barriers, such as low literacy and limited workplace skills to attain secure and meaningful employment.

Through the project, up to 15 participants will work toward improving confidence and enhancing their understanding of documents, communication and personal relations.This will help them access opportunities, so they can benefit from the growth of British Columbia's emerging liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector. The program is designed to create individual education programs that encourage and build success, based on each participant's needs.

The project will place a strong focus on literacy skill building, preparing participants to enter industry-related employment and employment training programs. It will use the Workplace Essential Skills (WES) curriculum, which determines nine skill domains: reading, document use, numeracy, writing, oral communication, working with others, evaluating ideas or information, digital technology and continuous learning.

The training will be provided in the Prophet River First Nation community in partnership with Northern Lights College and the Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society, which is administering the project.

Provincial funding of $62,000 for the training is provided through B.C.'s Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund, which is investing up to $30 million over three years for new skills training projects and partnerships.

Offering community-driven skills training is one part of the Province's efforts to include First Nations communities and Indigenous people in new LNG sector opportunities. The Province is also working with First Nations communities on environmental stewardship priorities and financial benefits agreements.

Quotes:

John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation -

'This skills training project is a good example of the kind of work First Nations and their partners are doing to ensure that Indigenous people have improved access to jobs and the kind of training needed for workplace success.'

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour -

'Providing skills training programs and support for Aboriginal participants is key to their success. This funding will help to ensure that program participants from the Prophet River First Nation have the education and training they need to participate in the workforce and benefit from a diverse, strong and growing provincial economy.'

Chief Lynette Tsakoza, Prophet River First Nation -

'Being able to provide this adult education program in the new community school on the reserve makes an enormous difference in helping to ensure that participants succeed with their learning and get the skill sets needed for jobs. Our thanks to the Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society for all of the great work they have been doing in support of this project.'

Seanah Roper, executive director, Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society -

'We are so pleased to be working with the Prophet River community. Providing learning services that are close to home, relevant and learner centred is our main focus. We hope the program will enhance confidence and open up opportunities for learners who participate, broadening their horizons in the emerging LNG sector, as well as in their personal development and growth.'

Quick Facts:

• Aboriginal people are a priority in B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint. A key Blueprint target is to increase Aboriginal workforce participation by 15,000 new Aboriginal workers by 2024.
• During the past year, more than 1,200 First Nations members received training through programs supported by the Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund. Another 1,000 will be trained in 2017.

Learn More:

Prophet River First Nation: www.prophetriverfn.com/

Fort Nelson Community Literacy Society: fncls.com/

B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/skills

The BC Jobs Plan: engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/