b'EDUCATION & TRAINING Participants in an FPDI Robotics ProgramSTAYING AHEAD OFTHETECH CURVEBy Andrew SnookTr a i n i n g a n d m e n t o r s h i p p r o g r a m s a r e p r o v i d i n g I n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s w i t h s k i l l s f o r b u i l d i n g a r e w a r d i n g c a r e e r i n t e c hW iththeexponentialOne tech-based program that has beensolution where they would go to commu-growth of opportunitiesparticularlysuccessfulinattractingnities and provide the two-week training within the tech sector, ityouth is the First Peoples Developmentinrobotics,explainsBarbMoran, comes as little surpriseInc. (FPDI) Robotics Program. OriginallyApprenticeship Support Project liaison that a greater focus hasstarted in 2015, the program has providedofficer for FPDI. At that time, we only did been placed on education and trainingtraining to more than 1,300 youth partic- that with the employment and training related to improving tech-based skills.ipants to date from nearly 100 communi- departments. That was probably for the With the number of remote positionsties across Manitoba.first two or three years. And now, we just alsogrowing,theopportunitiesforleverage mostly schools. So its been very Indigenous peoples to find meaningfulThe idea for the program came into beingsuccessful. The kids are very hungry for employment without necessarily havingwhen the FPDI executive director at thethis kind of training.to leave their communities long-term aretime attended a conference on STEM also increasing.(science, technology, engineering andEvan Colgan, program coordinator for mathematics). Shortly afterward, FPDIFPDI and supervisor for the robotics To help Indigenous youth embracereached out to Indigenous Servicesprogram,travelsaroundManitoba tech and assist adults with upskillingCanadaandsuccessfullyobtaineddelivering two-week sessions in various for a chance at a new career, severalfunding to provide robotics training tocommunities. This is a fantastic program, programs have been implementedFirst Nation communities in Manitoba. says Colgan, who is from Long Plain First to help Indigenous peoples acrossNation. Weve delivered [sessions] all Canada embrace the tech sectoraWe recruited six instructors. We trainedthe way up to Churchill [and] all the way sector where they traditionally havethem with our partner, and once theydown to Roseau River. We try to reach been underrepresented. completed the training, it was a turnkeyas many people as possible. A lot of the 46A CCAB PUBLICATIONWinter 2024'