Big Dreams
Come True
“We are working to provide equal opportunities for Indigenous people to participate in the Canadian economy while maintaining their culture and family structures.”
Projects
Leadership Development
for Indigenous Communities Project
With funding and support from the Future Skills Centre, Workforce Warriors Inc. embarked on a two-year journey to discover what Leadership meant to Indigenous people and what Indigenous people sought for programming for Leadership Development. The results of our survey spoke to the need to develop programming at all levels and to include language and culture in all programming. From this, the education stream for Leadership Development was created. The Leadership Development Project has three areas of programming:
Early Learning
THROUGH MUSIC AND VISUAL ARTS
Through uniquely developed curriculum, children learn educational concepts while being immersed in language and culture. Elders and Knowledge Keepers are engaged to lead cultural activities and lessons that further enforce the learning concepts and parents and caregivers are encouraged to share in the learning.
For a sample of how the music program is impacting lives of Indigenous children click here
W-I-L to Succeed
Our Work Integrated Learning programs focus on introducing youth to potential employment within the electrical and renewables trade. Through a combination of theoretical and experiential learning, infused with strong cultural teachings, we develop the whole learner to be work ready. Elders and Knowledge Keepers play a significant role in sharing cultural teachings and Indigenizing the curriculum. Imperative to the learner’s workplace success is mentoring and we provide this to both the learner and potential employers. We also work with employers to ensure they are providing an Indigenized, psychologically safe space for Indigenous apprentices to flourish.
Meet some of our Warriors
Elders Connect
Elders are the most important resource we have – they hold wisdom and experience that guide all of our programs. Elders are incorporated into all aspects of program design and delivery. It is also important to recognize the need for elders to come together, connect and share knowledge. As such, we have developed the Elders Connect program that allows elders from different communities to come together to learn, grow and flourish.
WAGE
Changing the workplace to support wellness of indigenous women
This 18-month project, funded by WAGE (Women and Gender Equality) under its program “Changing the Workplace to Support Wellness of Indigenous Women”, will support a feminist response and recovery from the current impacts of COVID-19, through systemic change. Our efforts are to educate employers and organizations on the importance of supporting Indigenous women and 2Spirit’s wellness in the workplace. Working with an Indigenous wellness leader, we are developing a national educational training program and the tools employers need to establish a culturally appropriate wellness infrastructure within their organization to support Indigenous women and 2Spirit’s safe and secure participation, reintegration, and retention in the workplace. At the end of the project, the organization will have contributed to addressing systemic barriers by advancing inclusive policies and practices, encouraging more equitable and effective sharing of resources, increasing networks and collaboration to accelerate systemic change, supporting the positive distribution of authority, voices, and decision-making power, and addressing persistent harmful gender norms and attitudes of the system, all to support women’s equality.
