Four First Nations in Manitoba Opt-in to Skills and Training Initiative for First Nations Youth

Personalized skills training will be delivered to First Nations youth (ages 18-24) in four First Nations in Manitoba.

SASKATOON, Jan. 31, 2014 /CNW/ - More than 150 young First Nation adults in Manitoba will be connected to skills training and jobs thanks to the Government of Canada's new initiative to improve on-reserve Income Assistance. These investments will provide personalized supports to First Nations youth as they secure the tools needed to find meaningful employment and reduce their reliance on income assistance.

In Manitoba the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council, Brokenhead, and Fort Alexander/Sahkeeng will be implementing the new Enhanced Service Delivery in # First Nation communities. All of the four First Nations communities are participating at the request of their local First Nations leadership. These organizations will be working with First Peoples Development Inc. to provide on-reserve First Nations youth ages 18-24 with personalized assessments and job training plans.

This is part of the over $19.4 million in funding being provided this year by the Government of Canada to 22 Tribal Councils, First Nations and First Nation organizations to begin work in 70 First Nation communities across the country, providing support to young First Nations income assistance clients. A total of 22 pairs of joint proposals (22 Enhanced Service Delivery and 11 First Nations Job Fund) were approved. Together these organizations will ensure that eligible income assistance clients have access to necessary training through the newly created First Nations Job Fund.

Quick Facts

• An integral component of the Enhanced Service Delivery initiative is case management. Case-workers will work with individuals to identify barriers to employment and to develop a personalized plan to address those barriers.
• This announcement represents the next steps in the implementation of the Economic Action Plan 2013 commitment to invest $241 million over four years to connect First Nations youth between the ages of 18 and 24 to skills training and jobs.
• This approach builds on the success of recent pilot projects and partnerships being undertaken across Canada, where the Government of Canada has been working with the provincial governments, First Nations and the private sector to link First Nations Income Assistance clients with training and jobs.
• These initiatives will begin over the course of the coming months across the country, as First Nations communities lead the effort to work with their youth on jobs and prosperity.
• First Nation youth will have access to a range of services and programs aimed at increasing their job prospects and supporting them as they move into the workforce, including: basic life-skills training, skills training and career counseling.

Quotes

"Our Government continues to take concrete steps to create the conditions for more prosperous, self-sufficient First Nation communities. Investing in jobs and skills training will lead to greater First Nation participation in the economy, healthier First Nation communities and a stronger Canada."

Bernard Valcourt
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

"I am pleased that 150 Aboriginal youth in Manitoba will be taking part in the improved on-reserve Income Assistance Program. They will now have access to a range of enhanced services and programs aimed at increasing their job prospects and supporting them as they move into the workforce."

Shelly Glover
Member of Parliament, Saint Boniface, Manitoba

"Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council and communities are pleased to be selected to participate in the Enhanced Service Delivery project to help prepare and ensure that our members are able to attain employment opportunities. Given the demographic change and transformation within our communities and society, attention to employment is not a choice but a necessity. It is absolutely necessary a holistic, integrated and seamless approach be adopted with the view of placing and meeting the needs of the most important client- the individual. The prospective individual needs to be given both the tools and support and safety mechanisms to increase their probability of success. Such an outlook must involve the provision of proper assessment, skills and training and employment readiness. This project and approach is a good starting point."

Robert Daniels, CEO
Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council

"With a steady increase in our population and demand for education and training we welcome the Enhanced Service Delivery and First Nations Job Fund. Our young population has great potential but are often unable to get to the level and are under-represented in post secondary education institutions and the job market. It is my belief this initiative will have a positive impact to change the statistics."

Donovan Fontaine, Chief
Sagkeeng First Nation

Related Products

Backgrounder - Improved On-Reserve Income Assistance Program
Backgrounder - Income Assistance: Perspectives on Active Measures

Associated Links

• January 31, 2014 - Harper Government Connects First Nation Youth with Personalized Skills and Training
• June 12, 2013 - Harper Government Invests in Skills & Training for First Nation Youth
• Improving Income Assistance
• First Nations Job Fund
• Canada's Economic Action Plan

SOURCE: Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

Erica Meekes
Press Secretary 
Office of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
819-997-0002

Media Relations
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
819-953-1160

You can subscribe to receive departmental news releases and speeches via RSS feeds or by e-mail. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.aandc.gc.ca/subscriptions.