AGA: Education and Employment FAQs

How has Education & Employment listened to the input from your Council, Communities and Citizens?

We supported citizens in developing their own unique Individual Training Plans based on their specific interests and needs to assist in achieving one’s personalized goals. We engaged with youth throughout the year by hosting career fairs and annual youth summit gatherings. In early 2021, we attended Chief and Council meetings to learn what their priorities are and how we can to support their respective membership. The Education & Employment Sector Council held its annual strategic planning sessions in January and February 2021.

How does the Education & Employment Sector complement and integrate the work done by Communities?

We hosted two SEEMS (Social & Education Employment) meetings to discuss upcoming opportunities, share best practices and collaborate where there are potential opportunities.

The SEEMS group is comprised of Community Education, Employment and Social Sector staff. We were able to provide funding to ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation to support wage subsidies for community members working on their on-reserve housing projects. The wage subsidy project ran from December 2020 to March 2021 and provided work experience to nine band/community members.

How does the Education & Employment’s Sector Plan, outcomes & results benefit Citizens?

Our annual plan is driven by 4 Strategic Pillars:

  1. Empowering Ktunaxa-Centered Education;
  2. Workforce Training for Ktunaxa-Centered Employment;
  3. Community Engagement in Ktunaxa-Centered Lifelong Learning;
  4. and Ktunaxa Informed Educational Governance.

Ktunaxa ʔa·knusti & Land-based Learning

In collaboration with the KNC Social Investment Sector, we provided land based learning opportunities with at-risk and vulnerable youth. This included mentoring and teaching animal harvesting, firearms safety, and the importance of ʔakxamis q̓api qapsin (All Living Things). Additionally, economic recovery funds were secured to provide the opportunity for 10 Ktunaxa youth to learn about trapping and tracking animals. To build on this, we partnered with the KNC Lands Sector to implement the ʔa·knusti (Ktunaxa Land Guardian) initiative. Seven Ktunaxa were interviewed and hired in Lands in March and will start their onboarding in April 2021.

Ktunaxa Training Fund

The Ktunaxa Training Fund provides funding for capacity development specifically for Ktunaxa nintik and the funds are supported through the Ktunaxa-Teck Impact Management & Benefit Agreement (IMBA) since 2016. During the 2020-21 fiscal year, Ktunaxa were sponsored in the areas of:

  • Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Training
  • Heavy Duty Mechanics Level 4
  • Masters of Law (2 Ktunaxa nintik)
  • PhD Indigenous Studies
  • Dental Assistant
  • Aesthetics
  • Masters of Engineering/Industrial Ecology
  • Advanced Issues in Ombuds Practice

It’s important to note that we provided programs and services to all Indigenous people, including Ktunaxa, who are status, non-status, living on or off reserve within ʔamakʔis Ktunaxa.

This included supporting post-secondary students with their tuition, books and living allowances; wages for summer students, work gear for citizens; helping individuals in acquiring driver’s licenses, providing career exploration support, industry & certificate training; and engaging with industry to match Ktunaxa employment. Here is a breakdown of clients we supported:

  • 8 citizens who applied to the Ktunaxa Training program;
  • 7 summer student positions;
  • 11 college and university sponsorships;
  • 33 individuals in need of supplies, work gear and training;
  • 11 individuals in receiving certificate training;
  • 10 individuals to gain experience in home construction; and
  • 37 youth in employability training with 32 successful completions.

KNC Master Mentorship Strategy

We supported the KNC CAO in developing the mentorship strategy and will continue to do so in the 2021-22 fiscal year.

The purpose of the Master Mentorship Strategy is to provide innovative pathways to support citizens interested in building capacity and in working at the KNC.

The strategy will be implemented across all the sectors and potentially in partnership with community and industry partners. This past year, the KNC Leadership Development Program and ʔa·knusti implementation were two pilot programs that were launched and are helping inform the strategy.

For more information contact Jacquie Dust at JDust@ktunaxa.org .

KNC Education & Employment Sector would like to take this time to express its appreciation to the partners that provided the support to make all this happen:

  • Employment & Social Development Canada,
  • Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training,
  • Kootenay Employment Services,
  • BC Ministry of Transportation (Yoho highway twinning project),
  • BC Timber Sales,
  • College of the Rockies,
  • Selkirk College,
  • Columbia Basin Trust,
  • Canfor Forests,
  • BC Hydro,
  • FortisBC,
  • Columbia Power Corporation,
  • Teck Coal,
  • Steel River Industries,
  • ATCO Structures & Logistics
  • and Stratton Plumbing and Heating.