Ottawa, Ontario — November 18, 2013 — Aboriginal peoples are well-represented in the skilled trades, with participation roughly equal to representation in the Canadian population. As population growth among indigenous peoples continues to outpace the Canadian average, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum says Aboriginal peoples will continue to be an important segment of the skilled trades workforce.
Across the country, organizations and individuals are undertaking initiatives to engage and support Aboriginal apprenticeship. In the latest issue of the Canadian Apprenticeship Journal, authors and practitioners from across Canada showcase successes and share thought-provoking ideas about overcoming common challenges faced by indigenous participants.
In this issue, several common themes and insights emerged:
• Cultural awareness and supports are the cornerstones of many successful initiatives
• Every person and community is unique – solutions have to be customized
• Remote location, essential skills, socio-economic circumstances and limited work/training opportunities within Aboriginal communities affect individual learners to varying degrees
“We are seeing innovative, creative solutions from every corner of the country when it comes to addressing Canada’s skills shortages. This issue of the Journal addresses the issue from an Aboriginal perspective, showcasing specific examples about overcoming barriers to apprenticeship training,†said Sarah Watts-Rynard, Executive Director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. “Indigenous peoples are an important part of the skilled trades workforce and a group many employers want to tap into, underlining the importance of sharing insight into what’s working across the country.â€
The Canadian Apprenticeship Journal is published by the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. The publication provides a platform for researchers and apprenticeship practitioners to share promising practices and insights on an identified theme.
The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum is a non-profit organization working with the apprenticeship community in all regions of Canada. Participants work collaboratively to support vibrant and innovative apprenticeship systems and policies, with a view to developing a highly-skilled, inclusive and mobile skilled trades workforce. More information and the latest issue of the Journal are available at caf-fca.org.
