The provincial government is providing $165,000 to local First Nations communities to conduct a labour market study.
The ‘we are moving forward’ project (Nis Ts’edilh) will create a three-year strategy that will research and identify labour market and training gaps, as well as opportunities in the Burns Lake region related to liquefied natural gas and other resource development.
The project, scheduled to be completed by mid-April 2016, is a co-operation between the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, Burns Lake Band, Nee Tahi Buhn Band and Skin Tyee First Nation.
John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, said this research project will help people in the communities identify the skills they need to find good jobs.
“Meaningful employment is vitally important to improve the health, cultural and social well-being of Aboriginal communities throughout B.C.,” he said.
Shannon Haizimsque, Chief Operating Officer of the Yinka Dene Economic Development, said First Nations play an important role in the region’s economic development.
“We know that various developmental projects are expanding at a rapid pace and we as First Nations play an important role in solving environmental and social challenges in our region and beyond,” she said.
“Currently we know little about the full scope of the labour market in our region,” she added. “This research project will provide the crucial information we need to inform strategies to stoke our continual growth and the benefits it brings to our communities.”
