b'NAVIGATING BARRIERSNorthern College partnered with Keepers of the Circle to deliver skilled trades training, including an eight-week construction project to build cabins for a land-based healing program, through a mobile trades program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Submitted photos.NavigatingFinancial BarriersBYRICK GARRICKTraining and employment services to improveeconomic prosperity for First NationsI ntergenerational learning oppor- The idea behind the partnershiplearning for youth and Elders through tunities and a 12-week businesswas to deliver trades training withinhelping Elders with home maintenance, accelerator program are amongthe community while building skills forhighlighting the importance of taking a variety of trades and entrepre- locals to help improve their communitycare of Elders, homes andneurship training opportunities providedinfrastructure, says Kelly Lamontagne, athe community.for First Nations in Ontario. former program coordinator at NorthernWe had eight students stay out in Mobile Trades Program College. We set up the [mobile] tradesthe bush for eight weeks near Taykwa trailers to go into communities to teachTagamou Nation to build these In northeastern Ontario, Northernbasic plumbing, electrical, carpentrycabins so [the community] could start College and Keepers of the Circle part- and welding skills to Indigenous peoplerunning land-based healing programs, nered to deliver skilled trades trainingto be able to maintain their own homes opportunities for First Nations commun- and generate interest in the trades, soLamontagne says. They had one cabin ities during the COVID-19 pandemicthat once the colleges opened they mightalready there, and they finished reno-through a mobile trades program. Theseconsider [going] into the trade of theirvating that and built three more from the training opportunities included oppor- choice or [joining] an apprenticeship. ground up.tunities to learn skills such as carpentry,Lamontagne says the trainingLamontagne says the youth helped plumbing and electrical. program focused on intergenerationalElders in Taykwa Tagamou repair their 42l I ssue2 2022/23C hIefs ofo ntarIoA dvocAte magazIne'