Susan provided several examples of the kinds of learners she assists. One of her students, Leo, works in the waste management area, putting waste labels on drums and access information in a database. He has very low literacy skills and memory problems. As part of the Essential skills training Leo receives, Leo regularly works with digital photos of information he must process. Another learner carries a glossary of terms with him and phones Susan anytime he requires assistance with essential skills applications.
Susan believes that literacy enhancement is extremely important but that programs only works if businesses remember that essential skills are about people.
The Aboriginal Pipeline Group (APG) was created in 2000 following meetings in Fort Liard and Fort Simpson. Thirty Aboriginal leaders from all regions of the Northwest Territories signed the resolution that created the APG and set its goals. The APG represents the interests of Aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories in maximizing the ownership and benefits in a Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline. The main reason for creating the APG was to offer a new model for Aboriginal participation in the developing economy, to maximize ownership and benefits from a proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline and to support greater independence and self-reliance among Aboriginal people.
When the idea for the APG first emerged in 2000, there was no money available due to the fact that the pipeline itself was still in the project analysis phase. Eventually, Transcanada Pipelines agreed to fund the APG’s share of all pipeline costs, an amount that has risen to 140 million dollars from an original commitment of 80 million. After all debts have been paid, (in approximately twenty years), the APG will earn 15-20 million dollars per year from pipeline activities.
The APG is very focused on emergent business and employment opportunities for Aboriginal populations and the skills development necessary to access employment. As a result, the APG is a member of the Pipeline Operators Training Committee, a group dedicated to improving the technical and trades skills of Aboriginals and northerners. The APG also participate in Aboriginal Futures, which funds oil and gas industry training in four regions across the north. Through its active involvement in these initiatives, the APG has come to realize the importance of essential skills as a foundation to successful training.
Kerry works with Aurora College conducting training needs assessment, developing programs and writing proposals for new training projects. During his presentation, Kerry outlined some problems faced by Northwest Territory learners: