WHAT IS ASETS? SKILLS TRAINING FUNDING AND EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN CANADA PRESENTED BY: Matthew Gallina and Carolyn McDonald CONGRESS OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES And KAGITA MIKAM December 6th, 2018

ABORIGINAL SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING STRATEGY (ASETS) Labour market program for Indigenous people in Canada Provides funded and non-funded supports at over 600 points of service 85 Indigenous Agreement Holders funded by Employment Social Development Canada (ESDC) First Nations communities, Metis, Inuit and Urban served by ASETS Program Two National ASETS Agreement Holders- Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) and Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC)

HISTORY OF INDIGENOUS LABOUR MARKET PROGRAMS Developed in the 1990’s, the “Pathways to Success” strategy reflected the principle that local Aboriginal control of and responsibility for programming is the key to success. Clearly, Aboriginal peoples knew what the needs of their communities were and how those needs could be met. Pathways marked a radical change in HRSDC-Service Canada's approach to Aboriginal employment and training programming, placing a heavy emphasis on an all-inclusive, grass-roots style of management through Aboriginal Organizations. – these were often referred to as Management Boards (ie. NPAAMB) Under the Pathways strategy, HRSDC-Service Canada continued to be responsible for contracting and monitoring all projects but employment projects were approved by Aboriginal Management Boards (AMBs) that represented all Aboriginal peoples within specific geographic areas across Ontario.

HISTORY CONTINUED In January 1996 following the Pathways review process, HRSDC-Service Canada signed National Framework Agreements (NFAs) with the Métis National Council, the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada, and the Assembly of First Nations. The goal of the NFAs was to develop labour market programming which addressed the unique needs of Aboriginal people, calling for equal access to programs and services for all community members, including Aboriginal women and persons with disabilities.. Regional Bi-lateral agreements resulted The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples (RCAP) called for a longer-term employment and training initiative than the three-year RBA model. In response to recommendations by the RCAP, a number of federal programs were developed to assist Aboriginal people in accessing employment opportunities through education, skills development and training opportunities. The federal government aimed to achieve this goal through a number of programs, including HRSDC-Service Canada’s Aboriginal Human Resource Development Strategy (AHRDS) AHRDS continued until 2009/2010 when the Strategy was replaced by ASETS

ASETS 2010- 2018 ASETS agreements are currently in their final year of the funding cycle. ASETS program is ending March 31st, 2018 to replaced with ISETS Renewal of strategy committed in last 2 federal budgets TRC call to action “we call upon the federal government to develop with the Aboriginal groups a joint strategy to eliminate educational and employment gaps between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal Canadians”

ASETS / ISETS SERVICE AREAS Provides labour market funding for skills training and employment supports to 85 agreement holders in Canada Includes First Nations/on reserve; First Nations off reserve (status and non- status), Metis and Inuit 18 agreement holders in Ontario (1 Metis, 1 Inuit, 2 urban, 14 First Nation (on reserve) Original pillars- demand driven training - reliance on partnerships/linkages -accountability and capacity building

85 ASETS AGREEMENT HOLDERS IN CANADA BRITISH COLUMBIA - 15 ALBERTA- 13 SASKATCHEWAN- 2 MANITOBA- 4 ONTARIO- 18 QUEBEC- 5 NOVA SCOTIA- 2 NEW BRUNSWICK -4 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND -1 NEWFOUNDLAND-6 YUKON TERRITORIES-2 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES-7 NUNUVAT- 3 NATIONAL- 2

WHAT DETERMINES WHO GETS FUNDED? EVERY ASETS AGREEMENT HOLDER DEVELOPS THEIR OWN ELGIBILITY CRITERIA! Eligibility for ASETS funding may depend on: -type of skills training -youth (NPAAMB) -length of skills training -priorities of -Geographic Catchment Areas ASETS holder -Residency (i.e. Women, client -Aboriginal Ancestry with multiple barriers)

All ASETS Agreement holders fall under 4 streams of funding: ASETS FUNDING STREAMS All ASETS Agreement holders fall under 4 streams of funding: First Nations- applicants living on-reserve or close to their Aboriginal community Metis –applicants living West of Quebec supported by provincial Metis organizations Inuit- applicants living in the traditional territory of Northern Canada Urban- applicants living in largely populated areas away from their aboriginal communities

TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY ASETS employment SERVICES Employment counselling Career exploration/ Job readiness workshops Job search on site services Resume assistance Mock interviews Labour Market Information PLAR Career Fairs Referrals (i.e post- secondary funding) Essential Skills Assessment Essential/Life Skills Development Linkages/Partnerships with companies

TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED FUNDED SERVICES Funded services means direct client funding of: Occupational skills training (certificate, diploma) Summer job experience/student intern Wage subsidies (50% for profit; up to 100% not for profit) Apprenticeship and Pre-apprenticeship skills training Adult Basic Education/GED Self employment/ entrepreneurship

TYPES OF SERVICES PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT SUPPORTS Employment Retention Supports provide funded assistance to enable a client with a job to continue having a job. Some examples of these supports are: transportation childcare (FNICCI for First Nations ASETS holders) uniforms; clothing work boots, PPE Additional training or certificate (i.e. first aid, computer, courses, conference fees)

HOW CAN ASETS HELP MY BUSINESS? Trained / Skilled Indigenous people in various fields ready for work. Targeted wage subsidies designed for entry into your organization while saving on employee costs. Increased Aboriginal population in your workforce and stronger ties to Indigenous communities. Assessment of indigenous candidates looking for work (Employment Readiness Scale, Employability Skills Assessment Tool)

MAKE ASETS PART OF YOUR HIRING EQUATION! Institution provides skills training for an Indigenous student ready to work in a specific field ASETS provides funding for the Indigenous student to be successful in the training program Employer hires a qualified Indigenous candidate with no additional training costs

SOME EASTERN / SOUTHERN ONTARIO ASETS AGREEMENT HOLDERS Kagita Mikam- Ottawa (part of Aboriginal Labour Force Development Circle) Miziwe Biik- Toronto (part of Aboriginal Labour Force Development Circle) Metis Nation of Ontario- Ottawa Niagara Peninsula Area Aboriginal Management Board (NPAAMB) Tungasuvvingat Inuit- Ottawa Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres- Toronto Anishinabek Nation ( Union of Ontario Indians)- North Bay

How do I contact my local ASETS? Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment- social-development/services/.../asets.html Or simply google – ASETS holders and the Government of Canada ASETS site will come up

Nya:weh, Miigwetch, Hiy Hiy, Merci, Thank you Questions? Matthew Gallina-National ASETS Training Coordinator (613) 747-6022 EXT 225 m.gallina@abo-peoples.org Carolyn McDonald- Kagita Mikam Aboriginal Employment and Training (613) 565-8333 carolyn@kagitamikam.org Nya:weh, Miigwetch, Hiy Hiy, Merci, Thank you