Vale supports awareness of mining careers with Aboriginal organization

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province.

Ontario Mining Association member Vale has donated more than $500,000 to support enhancing Aboriginal awareness of career opportunities in the mining industry.  Vale’s support of Indspire (formerly known as the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation) helped this educational organization produce the teaching resource “Careers in Mining,” which is aimed at Aboriginal youth.

“Careers in Mining” highlights five career profiles – miner, millwright, environmental engineer, geologist and mine engineer.  It is the newest component of Indspire’s “Career Opportunities for Youth” series.  Other parts of this series include “Careers in Television Broadcasting,” “Careers in Radio Broadcasting,” “Health Careers in the Classroom,” “Circle of Justice” and “The Canadian Railway Industry.”

The resources of “Careers in Mining” include career profiles, education requirements, activities, necessary work and life skills and a first rate video on mining jobs focused on Aboriginal high school students.  Co-Executive Producer of the lively and entertaining 18-plus minute video is Jennifer Podemski. 

“‘Careers in Mining’ was launched in 2010.  Vale and Indspire worked collaboratively to ensure both the video and the curriculum were reflective of the industry and relevant to the audience,” said Erin Satterthwaite, Director Communications and Community Investment for Vale’s Base Metals business.  “We wanted to promote Aboriginal awareness of opportunities in the mining sector and the message needed to be delivered by Aboriginal role models.”

This program also involves Aboriginal role models paired with Aboriginal mining experts visiting classrooms.  “Working with partners with the leadership and vision of Vale, together we can motivate, inspire and support Aboriginal youth to achieve their potential and make their contribution to Canada,” said Roberta Jamieson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Indspire.

“Our partnership with Vale is invaluable – together we are providing Aboriginal high school students with a unique opportunity to see what their future could be if they pursue a career in the mining industry,” added Ms. Jamieson.
 
This education resource has been utilized in Ontario, Manitoba, Nunavut, Northwest Territories and British Columbia. Indspire has raised more than $42.7 million in scholarships and bursaries, assisting more than 11,500 First nations, Inuit and Metis students across Canada.

Miners and mining companies are responsible, solution-providing partners in society.  They do more than find, extract and process minerals essential to our modern lifestyle.  These companies are economic enterprises operated by men and women who are members of society and community builders.  As volunteers and donors, they add great value to the quality of life in their communities and beyond.

March 12, 2012
 
Jennifer Podemski is a well know Aboriginal film producer and actress who was also producer of the OMA’s First Nations video “Mining New Opportunities” in 2005.
 
“Mining New Opportunities” gained Honourable Mention in 2006 from the Conference Board of Canada. “The entire package, which is produced in five languages — Cree, Oji-Cree, Ojibway, French and English — employs information and communications technology to reach its primary audience of young people living in Aboriginal communities in Ontario.”