Like many remote communities, Nuxalk Nation, located in Bella Coola, B.C., was having difficulties developing and accessing skilled labour. The Nation identified the need for trades training that would develop new apprentices and construction trades training skills of the existing Red Seal Carpenters. They had a vision to bring skilled labour training to the community, believing it would have a better success rate if the training were conducted at home.
The program began in 2015 with Nuxalk Nation developing and implementing its own Housing Strategy. Through Nuxalk Nation’s partnership with Camosun College, Industrial Trades Authority, and the Fund, their vision to bring skilled training to the remote community paid off in 2020 with 12 citizens (3 women and 9 men) celebrating the completion of their fourth-year apprenticeship level from the Carpentry Apprenticeship Program at Camosun College. Five of the graduates also passed their Interprovincial Red Seal exam. A special graduation celebration was held in their home territory on February 12, 2020. During the celebration, Chief Wally Webber thanked the Fund for its support.
“Bringing the education program to the community has dramatically increased the student’s success rate. Many students are single parents who could not afford to go live in the city to study. When the carpenters succeed, Nuxalk succeeds. Council is very proud of the twelve graduating members. The new building standards in Nuxalk Nation are much higher than the Provincial BC or Federal Building Standards.”
Already, the new carpenters have completed several buildings for the community including a steel building to house their classroom, supplies and equipment, two 5-plexes, a triplex, seven cabins along the river to add to their Nation owned hotel, a new youth center in town, a new community restaurant, and exterior upgrades to many of their existing housing units. Community based training developed new learning opportunities and created a legacy of projects completed by the apprentices. Moving ahead, the Nation plans to build up to 50-60 new homes over the next five years together with a Big House, a cultural centre, and a museum.