Leading Practices for Aboriginal Employment

Gabriel Dumont Institute; Saskatchewan; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job description

Leading Practices for Aboriginal Employment

Gabrielle Dumont Institute was well represented at the Aboriginal Employment Transitions Workshop on November 2, 2016, at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. The event, titled “A Best Practices Workshop Facilitated by the Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Technical Institute Council,” aimed to:

1. Provide a forum to share leading and promising practices to increase Aboriginal employment after graduation;
2. Understand why Aboriginal engagement makes good economic sense;
3. Enhance the ability of training institutions and employers to address Aboriginal learners’ needs and prioritize Aboriginal engagement.

The workshop was initiated by the Aboriginal Graduate Employment Project, which aims to develop a cross-sector understanding of promising practices, implement these practices, and foster ongoing shared learning to improve outcomes for Aboriginal graduates. Brett Vandale, Director of Dumont Technical Institute, co-chaired this initiative with Alastair McFadden, Leah Goodwin, and Christa Ross from the Ministry of the Economy. Dumont Technical Institute committee members coordinated the event, with Program Coordinator Chantelle Julé managing key preparations before her maternity leave in July.

Emcee Geordy McCaffrey, Executive Director of Gabriel Dumont Institute, engaged attendees with insightful commentary on keynote addresses and discussion themes.

Lisa Bird-Wilson, GDI Training and Employment Director, delivered an engaging presentation on effective delivery of career and employment services for Métis people in Saskatchewan.

Chantelle Julé and Joyce Racette, Workforce Coordinator at Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR), discussed a successful partnership that increased employment and Métis representation within the RQHR workforce. They shared strategies for engaging employers and Aboriginal students through work placements and experiential learning.

Walter Smith, Manager of Pinehouse Business North, and Daniel Downs, Program Coordinator at Dumont Technical Institute, highlighted their partnership’s success during the panel discussion titled “Beginning with the End in Mind - Engaging Employers and Industry”.

Chelsie Scragg, GDI Apprenticeship Administrative Coordinator, presented on the GDI Aboriginal Apprenticeship Project.

Over 106 delegates attended, representing various organizations including the Ministry of Advanced Education, Ministry of the Economy, Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Dumont Technical Institute, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, Saskatchewan Indian Training Assessment Group, ASETS agreement holders, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, University of Saskatchewan, North West College, Northlands College, Great Plains College, Carlton Trail Regional College, Parkland College, Cumberland College, Southeast College, and Lakeland College. Additional attendees included the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, Pinehouse Business North, Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region, Points Athabasca File Hills Qu’Appelle, Potash Corp of Saskatchewan, and Lyco Eagle Construction.

Feedback collected from attendees was highly positive, praising the venue, presentations, discussion sessions, food, and keynote address by John Lagimodiere.

GDI is a Saskatchewan-based educational, employment, and cultural institute serving Métis communities across the province.