Skills training announced for Indigenous communities

More than 1,700 Indigenous people in communities throughout British Columbia will be able to access education or skills training for in-demand jobs.

The province has invested $15 million to support Indigenous communities in managing the impacts of COVID-19 and participate in economic recovery. Some of the Indigenous partners include the First Nations Education Steering Committee, First Nations Technology Council, the Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association and Métis Nation British Columbia, along with other ministries that support Indigenous economic opportunities and CleanBC projects.

“By improving accessibility of education and training, we are creating pathways for Indigenous people to get the skills they need for family- and community-supporting jobs that will also help to rebuild B.C.’s economy and make our province stronger than ever,” Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training, said. “These programs represent vital opportunities for Indigenous people whose employment was impacted by COVID-19 to build new skills that boost their employability.”

Training and education opportunities are available in areas such as agriculture, health care, early childhood education, Indigenous languages, office administration, small business management, customer service fundamentals, adult education, forestry, heavy equipment operation, construction trades, land reclamation and mining, as well as digital innovation and literacy.

“The opportunity to receive training in a high-demand field will help Indigenous people get back into the workforce faster and contribute to recovery efforts across the province,” Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, said. “This funding supports Indigenous communities to identify their own needs for recovery from the impacts of COVID-19, such as training in emergency planning, information technology, the natural resource sector and health care.”