SIOUX LOOKOUT — A First Nations-owned economic development organization is again partnering with Confederation College and other organizations to offer a slate of courses that largely compliment the mining and resource development sectors.
The Sioux Lookout Friendship Accord Economic Development Corporation will be providing classes on acquiring a DZ licence (large vehicles that have air brakes), surface diamond driller assistant, underground hard rock common core training, environmental field monitoring, metal processing operator and site security guard, said Jacob Dockstator, the corporation’s executive director.
“It's definitely something that's wanted by the regional community,” he said. “We're trying to develop a local workforce and help the jobs that are being created in the region stay in the region.”
“We have people flying in from all over the country to work in the Red Lake mines area and the various different mineral development sites in northern Ontario,” Dockstator continued. “Of course, we want those paychecks to stay in northern Ontario and help our communities.”
The economic development corporation is jointly owned by four area First Nations — Lac Seul, Cat Lake, Slate Falls and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug.
The training is being run through the province’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Dockstator said this year will be the third year these types of courses will be offered. The DZ licence course is expected to get underway in September, he said, with the others following suit.
Instruction is done through a mixture of on-site and classroom learning, Dockstator said.
“These are being offered on a tuition-free basis,” he said. “We also … cover any travel costs (and) equipment costs that might be needed, such as steel toe boots, hard hats, things like that that are required to work on these sites.”
Dockstator said they also cover accommodation costs and there is other help available.
“If needed, we do offer financial assistance to people who have ongoing financial obligations or may have hardship by taking on this training,” he said.
These types of courses have proven to be popular over the past couple of years, Dockstator said; in the first year alone, over 500 people applied to the close to 180 spots available across all disciplines.
“We've had, unfortunately, to turn people away each year because the funding is limited,” he said, adding that the training is available to any Ontario resident.
Application forms and contacts are available through the Friendship Accord’s Facebook page.
“The whole purpose of the friendship accord is to be sort of an outward-facing regional development organization (that) the First Nations are sort of putting out there to contribute back to the communities,” Dockstator said.
