Ottawa and Queen’s Park made separate funding announcements on April 4 toward training Aboriginal workers for mining-related jobs in northwestern Ontario and the Far North.
Federal Natural Resources and FedNor minister Greg Rickford announced in his home riding of Kenora that $5.2 million is going to Seven Generations Education Institute to provide training and work experience to 315 participants involved in mining-related programs in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River area.
The money is coming through the federal Skills and Partnership Fund.
Four other Aboriginal organizations and private sector partners are involved to bring the total project value to $11.4 million.
Meanwhile the Ontario government invested $565,000 for training programs with the Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment & Training Services (KKETS) for First Nation communities located near the Ring of Fire.
The announcement was made at a graduation ceremony for 45 Matawa First Nations participants involved in the Aboriginal Skills Advancement Pilot Program.
