The Saskatchewan government is giving the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission $500,000 to fund the Indigenous Apprenticeship Initiatives Program.
This program partners with First Nations Councils, Bands, organizations, and training institutions to run projects that help attract people into the skilled trades.
Every year, the SATCC allocates $400,000 in funding for the IAI program for training in designated trades that support indigenous people.
For the 2022–23 year, an additional payment of $500,000 is being allocated to help fund existing proposals that were received last year, such as hands-on skills training sessions involving tiny home builds, pre-employment and apprenticeship training sessions, and career exploration courses delivered in or near First Nations and Metis communities.
“As Saskatchewan continues to expand and grow, we need to invest significantly in the human side of our trades. Providing ease of access to apprenticeship and an opportunity for hands-on experience will prove invaluable for inspiring more Indigenous learners to pursue a career in the skilled trades,” Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said.
As of June 30, of last year, there were over 6,000 apprentices registered in Saskatchewan, with seventeen percent of those apprentices self-identifying as Indigenous.