b'WOMEN IN TRADESan apprenticeship in one of 39 differentgo toward higher education and dontif people are not quickly trained to fill Red Seal categories.often consider trades as an option, saysgaps left by retiring construction profes-Bond. People dont always appreciatesionals. Government and industry are Adam Bond, manager of the project,how awesome trades are. Its not theincreasingly realizing that Indigenous explains that women statistically make upsame kind of gruelling, backbreakingpeople are well suited to fill these posi-only two to five per cent of the construc- and dirty work that it used to be. It needstions. For Indigenous women, this pres-tion or manufacturing workforce. Thisto be communicated better just how coolents a phenomenal opportunity to find reflects a massive gender gap for womentrades are. They shouldnt be seen as aa satisfying career, often close to home, in general, and Indigenous women infall-back career.with the possibility of operating some particular. The importance of the ESDCpretty big and impressive machinery. Its apprenticeship program is not only thatThe ongoing labour shortage in skilleda win-win for both sides, and Indigenous it addresses the labour shortage, but that it helps ensure the workforce is moretrades will greatly impact the economywomen are taking note. representative of Canadian society. There is the issue of economic margin-alization that has been happening to Indigenous people, and more specifi-cally, Indigenous women, Bond explains. One area of reconciliation is to address the systemic factors that lead to socio-economic marginalization. Trades are a great opportunity to advance equality because these types of career paths are very accessible, they dont result in massive student debt, and they are well-paying, high-demand jobs.Indigenous women can apply to the program on the NWAC website for the opportunity to enter a variety of trades. The exact trade depends on the prov-ince or territory they live in, as not all Red Seal trades are designated in all prov-inces. In general, women can become welders, boiler makers, pipe fitters and heavy equipment operators, to name a few of the trades on offer. NWAC works closely with program candi-dates. Liaisons reach out to candidates once they have registered on the portal to learn more about them and help match them with the most appropriate appren-ticeship opportunity. The ESDC grant is available to any eligible employer whoCome work with ushires someone for a first-year Red Seal apprenticeship. Theres also an addedWe are innovators who believe benefit for the employer if that candi-date is a member of an equity-deservingthat successful collaboration group, including Indigenouspeople.comes from all over canadaWhile there are training opportunities being provided to Indigenous women looking for careers in the trades, some women are still impacted by societal biases that exist around working in construction. Canadian culture has often viewed the trades as a backup plan, and this can impact the career choices made by young people of all backgrounds. In general, Indigenous women tend to Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT 29Hitachi Energy_CCAB_Sept 2022.indd 1 8/29/2022 12:35:25 PM'