b'INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPSCONSTRUCTING e all hope to create a brighter future for theThe partnership between Decontie Construction and Milestone W next generation. In a rich country like Canada,Environmental Contracting has helped create new opportunities for Anishinabeg people to gain vital work experienceopportunities to join the workforce and build towards that future are greater than in most A BRIGHTERparts of the world. That said, there are still many people in this country that have to overcome significant barriers when attempting to enter the workforce. And, unfortunately, the people that have had to overcome the greatest barriers are often those that have resided in the country the longest: Canadas First Nations. FUTUREHowever, thanks to the leadership of some First Nation bands, this is starting to change. Partnerships are being built across a variety of industries to create new employment opportuni-ties. One of those industries is the construction sector. In Maniwaki, Quebec lies the First Nation community of Kitigan Zibi, home to Decontie Construction Inc., an Algonquin-Anishinabe-owned general contracting firm operating in the area for more than 25 years. In 2014, it became the first Algonquin-Anishinabe-owned general contractor to be licensed by the Rgie du btiment du Qubec (RBQ) to prac-tise general contracting throughout the province. The companys construction roots, however, date back all the way to the 1950s, when members of the Decontie family started working on pipelines. At the time, many Kitigan Zibi community members travelled to the U.S. to gain construc-tion experience, including several members of the Decontie family. That experience helped build the foundation of Decontie Construction.In Canada, becoming a journeyman in the construction trades typically involves going to trade school and fulfilling your in-class hours, and obtaining your supervised work experi-ence and on-the-job training as an apprentice. The supervised Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT25'