Environmental careers natural for Natives

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Because Aboriginal people have always been stewards of the land, some First Nations youth have naturally gravitated to jobs in forestry and environmental protection. Human resources specialists, however, contend that not enough Native graduates are choosing careers in wildlife management and recreation.

A national initiative is underway to encourage First Nations students to set their sights on work in conservation and in pollution control.

Two organizations have joined forces to spearhead the campaign to draw Aboriginal job seekers into the environmental sector. The Canadian Council for Human Resources in the Environment Industry (CCHREI) and the Aboriginal Human Resource Development Council of Canada (AHRDCC) have teamed up in a project known as BEAHR (Building Environmental Aboriginal Human Resources.)

The CCHREI promotes national standards for environmental practitioners, employers and educators. The group also tries to forge alliances between business and labor. A major focus is on school-to-work barriers faced by youth entering the job market.

The AHRDCC exists to improve Aboriginal access to jobs.

The goal of BEAHR is to increase Aboriginal environmental employment by 6,000 positions over 15 years.

In a report released this summer, BEAHR targets the environment sector for growth and predicts there will be a great demand for environmental practitioners in the next decade.

Vacancies are expected to occur in air and water quality protection, mining, oil and gas industries, fisheries management and outdoor recreation.

It is estimated that by 2016, some 400,000 Aboriginal youth will be entering the labor market. Industry observers believe the graduates will need role models and mentors in order to take advantage of career possibilities.

Mary Lynn Odjig, director of the Wikwemikong Development Commission on Manitoulin Island, supports the concept of getting more students interested in jobs in the environmental sector.

"A lot of First Nations businesses are starting to work on contracts for the Ministry of Natural Resources," she said. "A lot of students go off-reserve to work on forestry contracts at present. Domtar is also providing some silviculture opportunities too."

More skill development is needed, Odjig feels, to help today's youth manage the growing number of government certificates required for the workplace.

"The land has always been important to the Anishinabek people," she said. "Many of our young people have grown up close to the land and enjoying the outdoors, so they feel at home with these types of jobs."

Odjig sees potential employment in local research as well. She suggests that skilled people are needed to help solve problems plaguing Great Lakes fisheries.

Doug Craig, deputy mayor of Sudbury, serves on the national steering committee for BEAHR as a delegate for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

"The national committee is essential in ensuring the needs of stakeholders are identified and met," he said."Whether it is in the development of a strategy or of a product or service, the leadership and guidance of a national steering committee is vital in ensuring success."

"Two heads are better than one is the basic principle behind the development of the [steering committee]" said Craig. "The committee can bring a great amount of expertise and knowledge to a project that a small project team could only hope to have. They identify shortcomings, solutions, potential roadblocks and provide support to the outcomes and deliverables of a project."

He noted that a number of demonstration projects are being piloted to further the group's goals.

A career awareness package will call attention to the satisfying jobs in the environmental sector. The Aboriginal EnviroCareers toolkit will include videos, teacher guides and CD ROM resources. Materials should be available by winter 2003.

Craig added that BEAHR is also investigating ways to deliver training programs. Through a link wit the Northern Arizona Universities Institute for Tribal Environmental Practitioners, a new community based learning program will be developed.

On-the-job-experience is another major focus. According to Craig, BEAHR intends to develop technologist-level training with short internships to assist in the school-to-work transition. Employers in the environment sector would be partners in implementing this project.

As a former educator, Craig recognizes that the environment sector is a natural fit for many First Nations students.

"Their understanding of traditional environmental knowledge is extremely beneficial to understanding, exploring and protecting the environment," he said.

In addition, he pointed out, recent court rulings mandate that industry consult with Indians on land and resource initiatives.

"Hiring Aboriginal people will therefore facilitate these discussions, and provide Aboriginal communities with a contact which understands their customs, traditions and culture."