It’s not hard to tell an organization’s priorities if you look at where their efforts are going. For the Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC), it’s clear that engaging with Indigenous people across the province is extremely important, based on their significant efforts within the community.

Those efforts are about much more than building exposure to the construction sector for a population that is underrepresented in the field – they’re about building hope.

Just ask Raymond Flett, Chief of St. Theresa Point First Nation. The community, located on Island Lake in northeastern Manitoba, is one community where MCSC has delivered training programs to address skills gaps on local construction projects.

“Our people see this training program happening and it provides hope for them. They see others succeeding, and they want to participate and follow in their footsteps,” said Flett. “When people from our remote communities come to Winnipeg, it’s a culture shock and it can set us back. So when we can offer these training programs at home, we have a better success rate.”

MCSC training programs like this one start with a three-week job readiness course that focuses on time management, work ethic, budgeting, resume writing, and other skills needed to excel in the workforce. That course is followed by a week of safety training, before participants get to start using tools and learning construction skills.

“The community supplies the training space and does the selection of the people who will be attending the course, while we take all the materials to the communities,” explained William Kirkness, Indigenous Liaison at MCSC. “After the courses are finished, we put on a feast for the people who have completed the course, where we present them with their certificates. I love seeing the participants get their certificate and the smiles they have on their faces. It’s something they’ve learned and something they’ve earned, and they’re so proud of it.”

The hope provided by these programs stems from the opportunities produced by the training. Those who complete training can receive credits in their mature student status high school diploma through the local adult learning centre giving them a pathway to the Apprenticeship program. Those who complete the courses can receive credit for their mature high school diploma, and if they want to move into carpentry and do their Level 1 Apprenticeship, the courses will give them credits toward that.

The training also gives remote communities the opportunity to become more self-sufficient.

“There have been cases where contractors have come in from outside the community, done a shoddy construction job and left the community. A couple months later, the buildings already have issues,” explained Kirkness. “These communities have the resources already, so if we can train people to be able to do their own construction work, the money can stay in the community.”

Perhaps most importantly, it allows these Indigenous communities to incorporate their values in the training.

“When we have a training program in the community, it allows us to continue using our cultural learning practices,” added Flett. “That may not be identified in any curriculum, but when this training happens in our community, our Indigenous values are instilled.”

MCSC also works with organizations in its home base of Winnipeg to bring hope to the urban Indigenous community. Purpose Construction, a social enterprise providing skilled trades training and long-term jobs to people with barriers to employment, is one example. Though Purpose Construction isn’t directly an Indigenous organization, Indigenous people are one of the populations facing the most significant barriers to employment.

“We work closely with Indigenous community organizations that support people coming out of the justice system, or support women who have been sexually trafficked. They work closely with us to co-develop our programming,” noted Kalen Taylor, Executive Director at Purpose Construction. “We also have an Elder on staff, so that people coming to our program have access to traditional knowledge and ceremony. We’ve done a lot of work to interweave our carpentry curriculum with traditional knowledge.”

MCSC and Purpose Construction have partnered on several initiatives, including currently ongoing training as part of a funding agreement with the Northpine Foundation that is helping Employment Income Assistance recipients gain sustainable employment in the construction sector.

“It means a ton for us to be working with an industry association like MCSC,” said Taylor. “They’re connection to employers, and their ability to translate what employers are looking for, is really important for us. We’re really focused on employability, and so is MCSC. Their support  ensures we are developing training appropriate to the Indigenous community, as well as the needs of the construction sector.”

Whether within Winnipeg’s city limits, or in remote communities inaccessible by road, it’s clear that these partnerships are at the heart of who MCSC is. The efforts they put into these initiatives and relationships will only continue to grow – and so will the hope they provide.