ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP SIGNED

Thunderchild First Nation stepped up its efforts to prepare its members for the thriving Saskatchewan workforce today by signing an Aboriginal Employment Development (AED) partnership with the governments of Saskatchewan and Canada and the Saskatchewan Regional Council of Carpenters, Drywall, Millwrights and Allied Workers.

The primary goal of all partners is to recruit and retain First Nation and Métis workers in Saskatchewan's sound economy. The initiative commits all partners to work together to reduce barriers and build strong, welcoming workplaces.

"I look forward to collaborating with Thunderchild First Nation to increase the participation of its members in Saskatchewan's skilled labour force and economy," First Nations and Métis Relations Minister June Draude said. "Thunderchild's many successful endeavours are a testament to this community's hard work and vision for the future. Thunder Employment and Field Services, partnerships with industry and government, and the exceptional learning environment of Piyesiw Awasis School are wonderful examples of how this community is moving forward."

"I would like to share that our group has taken a step closer to achieving our goals and objectives," Thunderchild First Nation Chief Dale Awasis said. "It is in our best interest to develop an effective working structure that will pave the way for our band members to participate in industry. We believe building this structure will open up economic opportunities and together we can look back and say we've achieved our goals."

"For the last several years, we have struggled to recruit enough tradespersons for our busy contractors," Saskatchewan Regional Council of Carpenters, Drywall, Millwrights and Allied Workers recruiter and organizer for the union Kerry Westcott said. "With this partnership agreement, we hope to recruit workers from Thunderchild First Nation. We look forward to helping First Nations and Métis people achieve their employment and development goals."

Through Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative agreements with Thunderchild First Nation, the Saskatchewan Regional Council Of Carpenters, Drywall, Millwrights and Allied Workers, and the Province of Saskatchewan, and with the support of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Government of Canada is working to promote employment partnerships as part of its commitment to helping Aboriginal people build strong, healthy and self-reliant communities.

The Aboriginal Employment Development initiative is focused on tapping into the emerging First Nations and Métis workforce as a critical component of Saskatchewan's growing economy. AED supports capacity development with First Nation and Métis communities in order to respond to employment opportunities. All AED partners work to identify and address barriers to training, hiring and retaining First Nations and Métis people.

With this signing, there are now 98 AED partnership agreements in place. Agreement have been signed with public sector and private employers, organized labour, government agencies, First Nations and Métis communities and education and training institutes. Visit www.fnmr.gov.sk.ca/aedp/ to learn more.

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For more information, contact:

Bonny Braden
First Nations and Métis Relations
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5701
Email: bonny.braden@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-530-2237