Occupation Specific Language Training for Aboriginal People and Mining in Northern Ontario

1. Occupation Specific Language Trainingfor Aboriginal People and Miningin Northern Ontario Executive Presentation Presented by Oshki-Pimache-O-Win Education & Training Institute APRIL2011

2. Overview • About Oshki-Pimache-O-Win • Aboriginal Peoples & Mining in Northern Ontario • Skills Gap in First Nations Participation • OSLT at Ontario Colleges • OSLT-APAM at OSHKI • Key Benefits • Next Steps

3. OSLT-APAM at OSHKI-PIMACHE-O-WIN ABOUT OSHKI-PIMACHE-O-WIN

4. Oshki-Pimache-O-WinEducation & Training Institute • Independent Aboriginal post secondary institution • Established in 1996 by the NishnawbeAski Nation Chiefs-in-Assembly • Incorporated in 2001 • Oshki-Pimache-O-Win means“A New Beginning” in theOji-Cree language

5. Our Mission... To be the leader in providing excellence in post secondary education by meeting the educational and cultural needs of the members and communities of NishnawbeAski Nation through a holistic approach to lifelong learning.

6. NishnawbeAski Nation • Covers 2/3 of Ontario • 49 First Nations • 45,000 people • 2/3 live on-reserve • 3 Aboriginal languages: • Ojibway • Oji-Cree • Cree

7. OSHKI Fast Facts • Reputation Successful partnerships with communities, government and higher education • Location Thunder Bay, Ontario • Campus Downtown office complex, modern facilities, outgrowing due to rising enrolments • Students Over 100 students enrolled for 2010/2011 • Faculty Over 20 instructors • Programs of Study Health, Social Services, Business, and Academic Upgrading

8. OSLT-APAM at OSHKI-PIMACHE-O-WIN ABORIGINAL PEOPLES & MINING in northern ontario

9. Exploration Boom in Ontario • Exploration spending: • $120 million in 2002 • $800 million in 2008 • Mining claims: • 114,000 claims in 2007 • 363,000 claims in 2008 • More than 32,000 claims in Ontario’s Ring of Fire

10. Active Mines in Northern Ontario Musselwhite Mine (Goldcorp) Victor Mine (De Beers) Red Lake Mine (Goldcorp) Pamour Mine (Porcupine/Goldcorp) Young-Davidson Mine (Northgate Minerals) Lac des Lles (North American Palladium) David Bell/Williams Mine (Barrick Gold)

11. “Ring of Fire”in the Heart of NishnawbeAski Nation

12. Over 30 Exploration Companies

13. Aboriginal Exploration and Mining Agreements • Victor Mine • De Beers Canada, Attawapiskat First Nation, et al. • Young-Davidson Mine • Northgate Minerals, Matachewan First Nation • McFaulds Lake Project • Noront Resources, Webequie First Nation, et al. • Timmins West Project • Lake Shore Gold, Flying Post First Nation, et al. • Detour Lake Project • Detour Gold, Wahgoshig First Nation • Musselwhite Mine • Goldcorp, North Caribou Lake First Nation, et al.

14. Mining Industry

15. Aboriginal Ontario • 133 First Nations • 242,490 Aboriginal people • 41% live in the north • Half are under the age of 25 years • 13 Aboriginal languages

16. Aboriginal Population in Ontario and Selected Regions 86,605 Aboriginal peoples in Northern Ontario

17. Aboriginal Languages in Ontario and Selected Regions NAN East Cree and Ojibway NAN West Oji-Cree and Ojibway

18. Aboriginal Languages in Northern Ontario and Selected Districts NAN WEST NAN EAST

19. First Nations People On-ReserveOver Half Speak an Aboriginal Language

20. Aboriginal Language Dialects in Ontario

21. First Nation Community

22. OSLT-APAM at OSHKI-PIMACHE-O-WIN Skills gap in first nations participation

23. Problem and Scope There are several areas in which language becomes intertwined with the Northern Ontario mining sector, and systemic language barriers are faced by a growing number of First Nations peoples that prevent and impede community participation in exploration and mining projects.

24. Consultation and Negotiation “One of the difficulties we found was that there aren’t a lot of technical words and terms in the Cree language for manyof the things you do in mining.”- Jonathan Fowler, Vice PresidentAboriginal Affairs, De Beers Canada

25. Literacy and Essential Skills “Community members are having a challengein qualifying for skilled trades training programs because some arefinding it difficult to passthe TOWES exam.”- Virginia Sutherland, IBA CoordinatorDe Beers Canada, Victor Mine

26. Skilled Trades Training Occupational language and terminology of the trades was a significant language barrier for Aboriginal participants challenged with participating in skilled trades training and writing trade exams. • Research study (Centre for Aboriginal Apprenticeship Research, Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board, March 2010)

27. Work Environment • At De Beers, the official language of work is English. One challenge De Beers faces in working with a Northern population is that English is not a first language for many of the local residents. • Consequently, many new hires from the regions surrounding the mines face language barriers at work.- Victor Mine case study (Conference Board of Canada, May 2010)

28. Language Barriers • Natural Language • English literacy, broken English, English as a second language • Occupational Language • Mining literacy, socio-cultural and technical language and vocabulary of the mining industry, especially as it applies to skilled occupations • Legal Language • Legalese, convoluted technical talk of the legal sector with respect to mining

29. Potential Impacts • Community opposition and confrontation • Lost and delayed opportunities • Increase in project costs • Strained relationships • Cancelled project

30. Need to Bridge Communication GapBetween Industry and Community

31. Need to Bridge Skills Gap Between Occupation and Worker

32. OSLT-APAM at OSHKI-PIMACHE-O-WIN Occupation specific language training at ontario colleges

33. “OSLT provides communication and socio-cultural workplace training to newcomers to help them succeed within their chosen careers” - Colleges Ontario

34. OSLT at a Glance • Funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada • Offered by 13 colleges across Ontario • 180 hours of instruction • Courses available on a part-time or full-time basis • Courses geared towards newcomers • Courses focused on health, business, skilled trades, and technology sectors and occupations

35. Sector-based Language Training with a Focus on Occupations • Each course curriculum includes communication training relevant to the sector, as well as instruction tailored to the specific occupational communication needs of participants

36. In-depth Curriculum Designed by Content and Language Experts • Language and occupational content experts have designed the courses using a common framework so that all courses address sector, occupation and socio-cultural communication skills in a consistent way • The courses are delivered by qualified college language instructors who have received orientation in this language curriculum

37. Providing an Understanding of Workplace Culture • Participants will develop a strong understanding of the socio-linguistic dimensions of their occupation and its sector, and learn how to communicate effectively within their workplace culture • These courses better position newcomers for career success

38. Serving Newcomers and Supporting Ontario’s Economy • OSLT courses meet both the career communication needs of newcomers and the skilled labour needs of the province • Practical, intensive and career-driven language training will help newcomers find and maintain work commensurate with their skills and experience in their specific occupation, and better integrate into the provincial workforce

39. OSLT Courses at Ontario Colleges

40. OSLT-APAM at OSHKI-PIMACHE-O-WIN OCCUPATION SPECIFIC LANGUAGE TRAINING AT OSHKI

41. OSLT-APAM at a Glance • OSLT-APAM fills a skills gap for First Nations peoples whose first language is not English • OSLT-APAM addresses a skills shortage for mining employers • OSLT-APAM positions First Nations peoples for employment and training in their territory

42. Vision Our vision of the OSLT-APAM program is to ensure that First Nations peoples develop to their fullest potential. Becoming fully self-reliant to be able to access and participate in employment and economic opportunities that will become available in the emerging Ring of Fire. Within this long-term vision, governments recognize the unique value of OSLT and are committed to supporting it across the continuum of human resources and skills development for First Nations peoples.

43. Goal #1 • To increase the knowledge and understanding of First Nations communities and mining companies on how OSLT-APAM can contribute to strengthening the Northern Ontario mining sector for economic growth and job creation

44. Goal #2 • To increase access to Occupation Specific Language Training opportunities for First Nations peoples to help position them for employment and training opportunities that will become available in their territory

45. Goal #3 • To create new links and partnerships between OSHKI and government, industry and other stakeholders to ensure a more concerted effort in improving employment and training outcomes for First Nations peoples through occupation specific language training

46. Three Year Work Plan

47. Supported by NAN Chiefs • Presented at XXVIII Keewaywin Conference, Chapleau Cree First Nation • Passed Resolution 09/66: Support for Oshki-Pimache-O-Win for Occupation Specific Language Training for First Nations

48. Indigenous Best Practices • Australian Government has been supporting workplace literacy and language training for their Indigenous population for 20 years • Best practices to draw from the Maori people • Similar exploration and mining context

49. OSLT-APAM at OSHKI-PIMACHE-O-WIN Key Benefits

50. Promotes Shared Values • Respect, trust, openness, honesty • Build early relationships • Build positive long term relationships • Build healthy and vibrant communities • Build productive, safe work environments • Show me the money!