June is Indigenous Month and we are celebrating Indigenous community members who have launched successful careers in the skilled trades!

The Indigenous Tradespeople Experience equips educators, businesses, and workforce development leaders with high-impact media to explore industries and career opportunities, discover STEAM on-the-job, and learn about soft skills.

Edge Factor has featured stories of Indigenous Tradespeople across many skilled trades, including Manufacturing, Hospitality and Culinary, Construction, Masonry, Power Generation, Animal Care, Transportation - the list goes on! 

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum  reported in 2019,  “Trades and exploration activities positively influence Indigenous students. After participating, interviewees observed students have an increased desire for information about apprenticeship and an increased interest in taking a trades and technology class.” 

Furthermore,  Indigenous students who have opportunities to participate in trades and technology classes have better attendance at school, increased motivation to learn math and improved employability skills. Developing hands-on skills leads to increased confidence and improved opportunities to obtain employment. 

The Indigenous Students in Skilled Trades Experience uses the power of storytelling to impart life lessons that engage and inspire Indigenous youth and community members to explore careers in various industries. You can read more about a few of those stories and lessons that  were highlighted in the Seven Lessons from Indigenous Peoples in Skilled Trades. 

Why Host Indigenous Peoples in Skilled Trades Events?

The Circle of Indigenous Youth Advisors identified barriers faced by Indigenous youth from participating in experiential learning opportunities at high school and transitioning to apprenticeships after high school. These included, lack of awareness about career opportunities and apprenticeships,  lack of essential and employability skills, and limited connections with employers. 

Here are 5 reasons why you should host an Indigenous Students Experience at your school, or workplace: 

• Create awareness about trades exploration opportunities and Youth Apprenticeship Programs

• Celebrate and empower Indigenous community members who have launched    successful careers

• Recruit students to enroll in tech-ed programs in high school and post-secondary and highlight the technology included in your programs 

• Reach parents at home to change the narrative around skilled trades careers and STEAM programs 

• Provide career exploration opportunities and connect Indigenous students with local businesses and the opportunities they offer 

The toolkit includes a pre-recorded keynote presentation by Jeremy Bout, Founder and Producer of Edge Factor, where he shares what he has been learning from Indigenous Peoples in skilled trades.  His presentation includes clips from the high impact media you can access and share to engage and inspire Indigenous students to explore and prepare for their future. 

What are you waiting for? Register today.

The Indigenous Members in Skilled Trades Experience is available for FREE until June 30, 2021. Access the free Indigenous Members in Skilled Trades Experience. 

This toolkit is available for FREE thanks to our partners: ABB, California’s Arts, Media, and Entertainment, and myBlueprint. 

For Edge Factor Premium members only:

This Experience will continue to be available for you all year! Don’t forget you can assign this content for your Classes and Students to watch the media and answer quizzes. This Experience paired with the Industry “Student Directed Activities” are a great way to gain metrics and see your student responses too.

Questions? Feedback? Contact us.

Email: info@edgefactor.com or message us on the Live Chat. We’d love to hear from you.