VIU partners with Coast Salish Employment and Training Society

Vancouver Island University (VIU) and the Coast Salish Employment and Training Society (CSETS) in Duncan have signed a partnership that will secure 12 seats in the new Aboriginal Construction Program at VIU for CSETS clients.

The program, which begins in April 2009, will build VIU’s new First Nations’ Gathering Place while giving students cultural knowledge and Industry Training Authority credit as a level one apprentice.

“Gathering places are spaces for community to come together,” said Dan Lines, Associate Dean of Trades and Applied Technology. “The new building will be a centre on campus for student celebration, a place for studying and the new location for First Nations Student Services.”

Marlene Rice, Executive Director of CSETS, said the program will partner with Blade Runners, an existing construction employment readiness program designed to give unemployed First Nations youth experience and training to make the transition to long-term employment.

“What really piqued our interest was the first year apprentice piece, which isn’t offered currently through our program,” said Rice, who believes that giving students the credentials will make them more employable. “We’ve had a lot of success with Blade Runners, but we want to see more.”

“VIU recognizes the importance of working closely with First Nations communities,” said Lines, who has collaborated with local aboriginal communities to develop the program. “We’re not saying here’s a program – take it; we’re saying help us develop a program that will work for everyone.”

Rice is also part of the team helping to develop the program. She thinks the cultural components will be an important part of the program for students. “Our traditional values are important, and we find that’s the missing key in some of our young people’s lives.”

“We’re building on knowledge we’ve gained from the First Nations programs we’ve been developing for 25 years and bringing it into trades,” Lines said.

Both Lines and Rice see the need to build trades capacity within First Nations’ communities, especially given the recent announcement of $400 million in government funding for on-reserve housing over the next two years.

“We want students to be successful and work in their own communities whether it’s on housing, commercial projects or ceremonial big houses,” said Lines. “People are starting to see the importance when they look at the infrastructure, especially around housing.  It’s critical to have people within the community that can do that type of work.”

Rice, who worked in a housing department on reserve for six years, sees the work ahead as an opportunity for the younger generation. “It’s about creating a future for our youth. Everything may not happen in our lifetime, but at least we’ve started.”

CSETS is currently working with an intake of 24 people to prepare them for the VIU program.

“They’re pre-training, upgrading and making sure they have all their certification,” said Rice. “The best 12 will go on to VIU and we will work with and support the 12 that don’t make it, with the hope that they’ll make the next program. We’ve got 75 participants on the waitlist.”

Rice said the goal is to ensure as many student successes as possible. “This is not about targets – we’re not targets. Let’s talk about success.”

VIU has been working with aboriginal architect Alfred Waugh on plans for the Gathering Place. “We’ve chosen a pre-European contact design,” said Lines. “It’s based on what the buildings looked like back in the day.”

So far, VIU has raised $1.2 million for the project, and needs to come up with another $2 million. For more information on the Gathering Place, to see the plans or to make a donation to the project, visit www.viu.ca/gatheringplace.

There is still an open application process for the remaining eight seats in the aboriginal Construction Program. Preference will be given to aboriginal students, especially those with a Vancouver Island First Nations heritage. Documentation may be requested. Non-aboriginal students will be considered if space remains available. For more information on the program call advising at 740-6410 or visit VIU’s website at www.viu.ca.