Community partnership highlights the trades as a career option for Indigenous youth

A pilot project in May has provided construction and trades training to Indigenous youth from the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.

The project, a partnership between the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, the Institute of Indigenous Learning, ConnectHer and Corporate Training Solutions at Fanshawe College, and the Workplace Safety Insurance Board, showcased the trades as potential careers. 

Twelve men and women, with an average age between 22 to 27 years, participated in the training at the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation where they learned about the construction trades, including carpentry. 

The students began their week with safety lessons, ensuring they handled the tools properly and worked on the job site in a safe manner.

“The project had students building a deck, learning about various tools, such as saws, and how to lay concrete,” said Brian Malott, Indigenous career consultant at the Institute of Indigenous Learning.

At the same time, the project also focused on encouraging women to consider the trades as a career choice. 

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“Women are significantly underrepresented in skilled trades across Canada,” said Julie Neufeld, ConnectHER national project coordinator. “To help change that, Fanshawe Corporate Training Solutions, in partnership with Polytechnics Canada, launched ConnectHER.”

ConnectHER, funded by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, is a national mentorship initiative bringing together educators, advocates and community partners to support and empower tradeswomen at every stage of their career.

Level 2 Architecture Technology student Meadow Lauralee French was one of the project’s participants. She became involved after talking to Malott.

“I was interested,” she said. “It was something for the community.”

Besides tools, French thought making concrete was “really cool to do” and learned soft skills, such as working with others, collaborating and leading a group.

Overall, French had a great experience and hopes there are more future opportunities.

“I would love the community to keep doing projects like this.”