by Owen Fitzgerald, Ex. Director, Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office

Fourteen Aboriginals from all parts of Nova Scotia graduated on October 10, from a 16 week Iron Workers training program at the NSCC campus in Stellarton. Connections Career Centre, a program of the Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre in Halifax and Labour & Advanced Education- Apprenticeship division developed this program and invited the Nova Scotia Aboriginal Employment Partnership (NSAEP), Mi’kmaq Employment and Training Secretariet (METS) and Native Council (NCNS) to partner with them. This program is one of several training programs underway with the Nova Scotia Aboriginal Employment Partnership (NSAEP) a training arm of the Unama’ki Economic Benefits Office. NSAEP serves all 13 First Nation communities in Nova Scotia in partnership with the Mi’kmaq Employment-Training Secretariat (METS) and the Connection Career Center. This training program is part of the effort to prepare Nova Scotia Aboriginal/Mi’kmaq to participate in major industrial projects in the province including the Irving Shipbuilding project. In photo taken last week is Jamie LeDrew of Paqtnkek First Nation, one of the Iron Worker students.

Tags: halifax, Jamie LeDrew, Mi’kmaq Employment and Training Secretariet, Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre, Native Council of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Aboriginal Employment Partnership, NSCC, Paqtnkek First Nation, Stellarton