Education & Training – Cassandra Puckett

Education & Training

Director Report

Dzēnes hoti’e! Summer is always filled with so much physical activity, whether it be travelling, fish harvesting, or enjoying all that the outdoors has to offer. In Education and Training, summer is filled with a flurry of new applications, our academic year-end reporting, and preparation to meet Tahltans during the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Annual General Assembly.

Cassandra Puckett

Education & Training Director With the new 2022/2023 academic year fast approaching, we are continually amazed at the scope of educational pursuits across the Tahltan Nation. From medical doctors to engineers and so much more, the TCG Education and Training Department continues to be inspired by the commitment and determination of our Nation's members.

In April and May of this year, we were finally able to host a Bootcamp Training Program. We offered eleven short-term certification courses focused on training that would be most beneficial for current employment opportunities. Additionally, we wanted to ensure we provide some wildfire training in preparation for the upcoming summer months. We had fifty-nine successful students obtaining 108 certifications with an investment of $156,178.18. The course list included Occupational First Aid Level 1, Transportation Endorsement, Occupational First Aid Level 3, Fall Protection, Aerial Lift, Traffic Control Person, S100 and S185, Chainsaw Level 1 (two sessions), Chainsaw Level 2, and Dangerous Tree Assessor. These courses were in partnership with Tribal Resource Development Corporation (TRICORP), Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC), Wild Timber, Tahltan Forestry, and Contact North BC. Caitlin and the team provided fantastic support with registration, communications, and general administrative support.

We also partnered with the Dease Lake Community Director, Christina Callbreath to host a Canadian Firearms Safety Course. While the Education Department did not provide financial support, we could provide support in the advertising, registration, and all other associated tasks required when hosting a successful training event.

Whether through in-kind contributions, such as equipment usage, letters of support and employment outcomes, financial or otherwise – every organization involved was instrumental in creating a successful training initiative. We look forward to continuing to evolve this program to best suit the needs of the Tahltan people in the territory while supporting and building capacity for all who wish to participate.

In June 2022, I was able to accompany sixteen Youth and some staff from the TCG to the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) in Toronto. The Youth practiced networking skills and had a frontrow seat at two-panel discussions featuring President Chad Norman Day. One of those panels also featured Paul Gruner from TNDC. The Youth visited the Royal Ontario Museum, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, the CN Tower, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and attended a Blue Jays game. These trips provide an excellent opportunity for our young people to embrace and experience things they usually would not have access to.

As summer is the end of the department reporting year, I would like to share some of our overall numbers from the 2021/2022 academic year. The TCG sponsored a total of sixty-five students across

the three categories of education – short-term certification, post-secondary, and trades training. We do not count boot camp students in these statistics as they are considered community training program initiatives. Our policy requires students to apply to federally funded programs, such as the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training program and/or their Band. Students only need to apply to these programs if their program and school are eligible. Due to this policy, we have seen investment in an additional thirty-four Tahltan students.

Utilizing federally funded programs first means we will continue increasing our sources of revenue for future generations. This is one way we ensure the longevity and sustainability of our education program.

Overall, here is a breakdown of educational investments in Tahltan Nation members in education and training:

I am incredibly proud and excited to see an overall investment of just over one million dollars in education and training across the Tahltan Nation. This is no small feat, and I raise my hands to all the students moving forward in education.

Category

TCG

Bursary Program

Bootcamp

External

Total $ Amount

$307,970.21

$110,000.00

$156,178.18

$ 428,244.30

$1,002,392.69

The TCG Education and Training Department is committed to supporting Tahltan students and doing our part to support their success. We all know inflation has increased drastically over the past year, so we have adjusted the TCG living allowance to reflect those rising costs. I researched the cost of living for students and examined the living allowance standards via provincial and federal student loans. The living allowance is now $1,700 plus $300 per month for dependents. Students who access Band funding can now apply with the TCG and receive a top-up living allowance if they are full-time students.