Project brings hope to Native nations

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A project to develop curriculum and accredit Aboriginal economic development officers will give them the hard skills they need to create opportunity in their own communities, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Secretary for State for Training and Youth, anno8unced today.

The Certification Process for Aboriginal Economic Development Officers will be the first project designed and delivered by Aboriginal people themselves for a key role in Aboriginal government. It will build on the existing occupational standards for economic development officers working in Native communities. And it will develop an accessible certification process to accredit Aboriginal economic development officers.

"This certification project will go a long way toward ensuring that Aboriginal communities thrive by seizing hold of their own economic development. It's all about helping First Nations people determine their own futures," Blondin-Andrew said.

"The project will ensure that Native economic development officers have the skills and knowledge they need to make crucial decision that will dramatically affect the lives of each member of their community."

The Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officer, CANDO, the project's sponsor, will receive $436,000 over two years. This funding will be matched by corporate donations and in-kind contributions from members of the academic community, who will volunteer their time to develop the program. The National Sectoral Adjustment Service encourages labor and management groups to come to grips with the human resource challenges facing an industry or occupation.

"This project is a major step forward in bringing respect and recognition to the role of the Native economic development officer-a profession that is instrumental in building bridges between cultures and creating partners for opportunities," stated Blondin-Andrew. "Fostering economic development is a key aspect of this government's jobs strategy."

The project will identify gaps in the current curriculum and develop a course on ethics for Native economic development officer. It will also research the problem of isolation and develop a prior learning assessment and recognition process and distance learning component to ensure that certification is accessible to all economic development officers and all Aboriginal communities.

It is expected that between 100 and 200 students will enroll in the program in the first year of certification. Another 50 to 100 people w2ill be able to obtain their certification within the first two years through prior learning assessments. It is expected that 50 to 100 students will enroll in the program each year and that CANDO will grant certification to up to 50 people a year.

CANDO is a national body that works to strengthen Native economies across Canada. It has been instrumental in pulling together experts, skilled economic development officer, Aboriginal leaders and corporate sponsors to work toward the goal of EDO education and certification.

Funding for this project was provided for in the March 1995 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. This announcement is an example of how this government is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars.