GOVERNMENT INVESTS $4.2 MILLION IN SASKATCHEWAN’S ABORIGINAL ADVANTAGE

Advanced Education and Employment Minister Pat Atkinson today announced details of a new $4.2 million investment that will help to increase the province’s Aboriginal and northern workforce.

A major component of that funding is an enhanced partnership with Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) that will enable that institution to create 180 new opportunities for First Nations learners.

“First Nations people across the province – especially youth – are poised to play a major role not just in our society’s cultural fabric, but in our economic fabric,” Atkinson said.  “It is the energy and enthusiasm of those young people that will help to sustain our current level of economic growth.”

The investment consists of the following components:

• $2.46 million in funding to SIIT, including:
• $1 million to create 100 new skills training opportunities;
• $330,000 to create 80 new on-reserve Adult Basic Education opportunities;
• $1 million in operating funding to help SIIT put the resources it needs in place to realize its full potential and meet labour market needs; and
• $160,000 for the Northern Construction Careers project.
• $500,000 in additional funding for on-reserve basic education in partnership with Saskatchewan’s regional colleges, SIIT and First Nations;
• $200,000 for the B.A. in Northern Studies program at Northlands College in partnership with the University of the Arctic; and
• $1.049 million to Dumont Technical Institute, Gabriel Dumont Institute, First Nations University and the province’s programs for the education and training of First Nations and Métis learners in Saskatchewan.

“The greatest resource we have in Saskatchewan is our people,” Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations vice Chief Lyle Whitefish said.  “The current partnership we have with the Province is unique and recognizes the need to engage First Nations people for the work force. The best social benefit for our people is a job at the end of the day.  The demographics show that we are the fastest growing population in this region.  We now have to roll up our sleeves and go to work on implementation.”
 
The investment also marks a continuation of the Saskatchewan Government's partnership with SIIT to provide funding to create training opportunities on-reserve.

“Today’s investment builds on our November 2006 commitment of $1.6 million to First Nations learners,” Atkinson said.  “Furthermore, by providing training on-reserve, more learners than ever will be able to access the opportunities they need.”

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For more information, contact:

Christopher Jones-Bonk
Advanced Education and Employment
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3106
Email: cjonesbonk@sasked.gov.sk.ca

Randell Morris
Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-244-4444 ex.229
Email: morrisr@siit.sk.ca