Northern Ontario’s First Nations Voice: http://wawataynews.ca/
A First Nations trade school is on the horizon after Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic met with international aid agencies, mining companies and education officials on Nov. 16.
“Canada is opening immigration due to a shortage of skilled workers and the mining sector is bringing skilled workers from all over the country — two weeks in, two weeks out,” Kakegamic said after the meeting with about 30 international aid, mining sector and education representatives at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School in Thunder Bay. “We have a lot of able bodies walking around in our territory. No one is going to do it for us; we are the ones that have to provide that avenue to (ensure) our students have the aspiration to go that route.”
Kakegamic said the trade school would provide an option for high school students who are interested in a career in trades.
“If they have a reachable goal (in trades), that would motivate them to attendance, that would motivate them to apply more in literacy and numeracy,” Kakegamic said. “That will give them the motivation to excel, and they can excel if you give them an opportunity.”
Kakegamic said the trade school would be focused on a variety of trades, such as carpentry, mechanical and other skilled trades, in addition to mining-specific trades.