Opportunity

This research opportunity came to me as a result of relationships I have made over the years working in the area of labour-force development with Aboriginal people. Over the past three years, one of my associations has been with the National Indigenous Literacy Association (NILA). NILA’s main clients are Aboriginal literacy learners, practitioners, and delivery agencies across Canada. According to NILA’s Business Plan (Anderson, 2003), “These clients require services that prepare them for survival in the modern economy” (p. 5). Literacy is a key aspect of successful employment, and, as NILA pointed out, “Literacy issues cross into many areas, including employment, health, business, social work, and public and post secondary education” (p. 12). My support of NILA’s work, and their connection to the low-literacy communities, made NILA a suitable organizational sponsor for my major project. Literacy and essential skills are often the starting point in an employment intake interview, so the research results in this project have had major significance for NILA.

To address the specific issues relating to Employment Counselling services in rural and northern areas, this project sought to connect with people in this role in Manitoba. It is important to note, however, the application of the learning’s from this project can be applied across Canada. NILA is an important partner in applying the results of the research. The northern communities in Manitoba represent primarily Aboriginal people, and my relationship with NILA led to credibility and support in addition to helping create a focus on Aboriginal people and their relationship to employment.

There is a critical need for effective employment counselling services, as seen in the statistics from Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs (n.d.): “Aboriginal people in Manitoba have an unemployment rate of four times the non Aboriginal rate” (¶ 5). High unemployment, coupled with booming northern construction for Hydro and a massive floodway expansion around the city of Winnipeg, is driving a skills-shortage agenda in Manitoba that many see as an opportunity for Aboriginal training and employment. According to Ben Brunnen (2004a), from Canada West Foundation, “Skill shortages are occurring in employment sectors that may easily be filled by Aboriginal Canadians” (¶ 5). This seemingly simple solution is not accurate for people in the north. According to Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, challenges for northern and Aboriginal communities include: “geographic isolation, transportation, communication, networking, access to basic essential services, employment opportunities, infrastructure, social conditions, access to education” (¶ 18).