Training institute takes to the road: Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Wenjack Education Institute delivering mobile instruction of apprenticeship programming.

AuthorRoss, Ian
PositionINDIGENOUS BUSINESS

In his past dealings with industry, Gordon Kakegamic discovered Indigenous people were often relegated to serving as helpers to the skilled tradespeople working on area infrastructure projects.

"Any issues that come up, they'll fly in a qualified tradesperson to deal with the issue and they fly out," said the innovation and training coordinator with Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Wenjack Education Institute.

Oshki is out to change all that by empowering First Nation communities with their trained workforce.

In January, the Thunder Bay training institute took possession of a mobile trades trailer to make Level 1 apprenticeship training available to all the 49 communities of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

"There's a big demand in our communities for skilled trades, especially when it comes to resource development projects," said Kakegamic.

Previously, Oshki had an arrangement to use Cambrian College's trades trailer to deliver a pre-trades course to introduce young people to entry-level jobs in the mining industry.

Though always popular, Oshki and the Sudbury college couldn't always coordinate their schedules to book the trailer.

It prompted Oshki to submit a proposal to the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Economic Development to secure their own customized trailer two years ago to create a regional workforce of journeypersons.

"We want community members to be qualified tradespeople who live and work in their own community, looking after their own infrastructure but also be mobile and working in remote sites, like Musselwhite Mine, the upcoming Ring of Fire (mine development), any resource development projects they can get employment."

With a fully-equipped trailer at their disposal, the focus is on delivering level-one apprenticeship training for six trades: welding, carpentry, plumbing, electrical, mechanical and millwright.

"Any infrastructure projects will use those six trades," said Kakegamic. "Even building a road into the Ring of Fire will require qualified tradespeople."

The $1.8-million specialized equipment trailer, built by Innovative Trailer Design of Toronto, is actually two trailers which can be arranged into a t-configuration at a selected training site.

One trailer houses lab or classroom space, with the other doubling as a supply trailer and workshop space. With expandable walls, more than 1,800 square feet of work space is created, outfitted with welding stalls, lathes and a band saw cutter, among other tools.

Throw in a $200,000 haul...

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