b'WOMEN IN TRADESStatistics Canada reportsADDITIONAL INITIATIVESthat in 2023, Indigenous In recent years, various initiatives have been started across Canada to train men and women over theIndigenous women in the construction trades. For instance, in 2022, a age of 15 were almostpartnership between local enterprise SheBuilds and Elsipogtog Economic Development trained three Mikmaw women as carpenter apprentices to equally represented inhelp build homes for Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick.the workforce overallThe following year, Employment and Social Development Canada (with 383,900 menprovided funding for the Native Womens Association of Canadas National Apprenticeship Program, a worthwhile effort to involve a more diverse mix and 366,500 women).of people in the trades. It was designed to connect Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people with small and medium-However, the broadsized businesses to build skills and explore new career opportunities.job category of Trades,In 2024, the federal Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative funded the Transport and EquipmentTemiskaming Native Womens Support Group in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, to support the recruitment and retention of 200 Indigenous women apprentices Operators and Relatedin Red Seal trades. Occupations, ExceptThe same program also provided funding to Flat Bay Band Inc. to raise awareness, create opportunities, and mentor and assist Indigenous women on Management employedthe island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador in pursuing Red Seal trades.only 13,800 Indigenous These are just some initiatives currently underway, providing Indigenous women compared towomen with opportunities in a sector in dire need of skilled labour in the 140,000 Indigenous men. years to come.motivated to acquire it. In 2023, it cele- EMPOWERMENT self-sufficient, Cashin emphasizes. It brated the graduation of its first cohort ofBesides driver training, graduates alsoalso contributes to their families and their five peopleall womenand 13 womenqualify in safety-related areas like Firstaccess to health care and education.graduated in its second year. Aid and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training.The program was initially developed in Gwen Green is among the TNDCs HEOThe benefits of the program extend evenresponse to feedback from an employee program alumni. The Tsimshian graduatefurther. Not only are we empoweringsurvey that identified the lack of a driv-says she was attracted to the programthem, giving them the tools for employ- ers licence as a significant barrier to as it was an opportunity to learn hands- ment, but we are making them morecareer advancement and employability. on how to operate dozers and loaders and gain a stronger foothold in her line of work. It was a stepping stone for me to advance in the trade, she says. I really enjoyed listening and learning from the trainers and getting tips from my fellow coworkers. They provided valu-able information that can only be learned over time.While Green admits learning the dozer was a bit tricky at first, maintaining a level grade became easier after a couple days thanks to the degree of on-site training. As for advice to other women taking the course, her recommendation is straight-forward: Youre there to learn. Ask lots of questions.A participant in TNDCs HEO program checking oil on construction machineryIndigenous BUSINESS REPORT43'