The Whitecap Dakota First Nation hopes a new partnership in the energy sector will bring more jobs for First Nations to the province.
The Whitecap Development Corporation has partnered with Tarpon and PTW Energy Services to pursue opportunities in the oil, gas and mining sectors in Saskatchewan.
“It’s an honour for our organization to partner with a forward-thinking entrepreneurial community that demonstrates excellence in leadership and economic development,” said Rick Wickland, President of Tarpon Energy Services.
“We are pleased to partner with PTW and Tarpon,” said Whitecap Chief Darcy Bear. “They have demonstrated industry-leading commitment to quality, service and safety.”
The partnership will be through the Whitecap Development Corporation, the First Nation’s business arm.
Darrell Balkwill, the CEO for the development corporation, says he hopes this partnerships will bring many employment opportunities for Aboriginal workers.
“Our strategy with these partnerships is not only to create revenue streams for Whitecap, but to maximize employment opportunities for Aboriginal people — so we really need to attract Aboriginal labour to these partnerships,” said Balkwill.
Balkwill says their plan is to develop an Aboriginal training and employment strategy across the province.
“I think there is opportunities that will be immediate,” he said. “And there is some longer-term opportunities where we can partner with training institutions to have people fit in to some of the jobs that will be available in the longer term, too.”
The partnership will pursue electrical, instrumentation, construction and fabrication opportunities in the oil and gas and mining sectors in Saskatchewan.