Module 3 Post # 4

When looking at employment and training opportunities for remote First Nation communities which would allow adults to stay in their communities and earn excellent wages I came across this Vancouver Sun article titled:   B.C. miners, First Nations learn to get along Sharing the land and wealth is possible when both sides work to understand each other’s concerns and desires

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/miners+First+Nations+learn+along/8262989/story.html#ixzz2WgLbzb1s

The article discuses how the mining industry is the largest employer of indigenous people in Canada. One example provided is New Afton mine, which is located outside of Kamloops where 20% of the workforce is Aboriginal and earnings roughly $85,000.

In addition to their New Afton project the article discusses how New Gold is developing their Blackwater Gold  property on B.C.’s Nechako Plateau. The president Bob Gallagher is quoted stating:

“Our biggest concern about building a mine up in north-central B.C. is ‘Where are we going to get the skilled people?’ and the First Nation’ biggest concern is ‘Where are our people going to work?’ So it’s a natural. Start early, work hard at it and get people trained up,” Gallagher said.

Looks like there are lots of similar opportunities to this as many First Nation Communities are located in resource rich parts of the province.

Cheers,

Greg Campbell