Okanagan Training and Development Council

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Okanagan Training and Development Council
Westbank First Nation
Okanagan Indian Band
Upper Similkameen Indian Band
Lower Similkameen Indian Band
Penticton Indian Band
Osoyoos Indian Band
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Okanagan Training and Development Council

• A Story of Success

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The OTDC Service Areas consist of six Okanagan
Indian Bands who sit on the council

• .

• Okanagan Indian Band
• Westbank First Nation
• Penticton Indian Band
• Osoyoos Indian Band
• Upper Similkameen Indian Band
• Lower Similkameen Indian Band

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The Service area also includes other on and off
reserve organizations

• Okanagan Nation Alliance
• Kelowna Vernon Friendship Centers
• The EnOwkin Center
• Round Lake Treatment Centre
• The Lower Columbia All First Nations

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The mandate of the Council
O T D C
The mandate of the Council is to encourage
self-sufficiency and address locally defined
needs and priorities of aboriginal communities
through employment, training programs and
services.
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OTDC Area

• OTDC is part of the Okanagan/Ktunaxa Aboriginal
  Management Society (O/KAMS) which covers the
  Okanagan, Similkameen, West Kootenay and the East
  Kootenay.
• This Society manages the Aboriginal Human
  Resources Development Agreement (AHRDA). The East
  Kootenay is managed by the Ktunaxa Kinbasket
  Aboriginal Training Council (KKATC).

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A Turning Point

• The delivery of employment programs did not
  always meet the needs of aboriginal clients.

• The formation of the OTDC represented a turning
  point in the way that employment programs were
  delivered to First Nations.

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History

• 1991 Pathways to Success
• 1996 National Frameworks/
• Regional Bilateral Agreements
• 1999 Aboriginal Human Resources Development
  Strategy
• 2004 Renewed Aboriginal Labour Market Strategy

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History

• The responsibility for delivery of Employment
  Programs and Services were handed over to the
  First Nations.
• The Regional Bilateral Agreement (RBA)
  fundamentally changed the way programs would be
  delivered.

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Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreement
In April 1999 a new five year agreement was
signed and AHRDA was created.
Essential Skills Training - EAS Training
Coordinators
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Formation of the OTDC

• The OTDC was formed to deliver these programs.
• The OTDC has seven board members that serve the
  areas of the Okanagan, the West Kootenay, and the
  Similkameen.

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BCAHRD

• OTDC is part of a provincial strategy that
  includes BCAHRDS, the Northern and Remote
  Alliance and the First Nations Employment Strategy

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AHRDA II
In April 1999 a new five year agreement was
signed and AHRDA was created.

• With a 5 year AHRDA II agreement to 2009 its
  business usual.
• The principles have remained basically the same.
  All First Nations (status and non-status) both
  on and off reserve will be served by this
  agreement regardless of there place of Origin

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OTDC Organizational Chart
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Programs and Services

• To meet the many needs of its clients the OTDC
  has developed programs and services

Skills Link Training Penticton
L- Joseph Raphael R - Stephanie Squakin
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Classroom to Job Site

• Course Seat Purchase Program,To purchase
  institutional training from a public or a
  registered private institution on behalf of
  clients.
• To recommend training which will promote
  self-sufficiency and integration of clients into
  appropriate employment as well as meet labour
  market needs.

• Workplace Training Program To assist employers
  to upgrade the skills of current full-time,
  current part-time or seasonal employees to meet
  current or future skill needs. This primarily
  involves the purchase of training.

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Programs for People
Lower Similkameen students participating In Swift
Water training
First Nations Employment Services, Vernon, London
Drugs Employment Initiative

• Youth/Student Development ProgramTo assist youth
  students in preparing for their future entry
  into the labour market
• Job Development Wage SubsidyTo assist
  individuals facing barriers of long term
  unemployment by providing training and/or work
  experience.

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Employment Services and Assistance

• Employment Services ProgramProviding assistance
  to employers community organizations to assist
  them in being able to provide specialized
  training opportunities, major impact proposals
  program delivery activities.

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Assistance to Communities
T. Elkink teaching Nsylxcen with the children and
Sarah Peterson Ntamtqen Snmalmayatn Band
School. (Lower Similkameen Indian Band )

• Delivery Assistance ProgramProviding assistance
  to employers communities who provide
  specialized training opportunities, major impact
  proposals program delivery activities

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Disability Program

• To provide assistance a person with a disability
  utilizing any of the OTDC programs.

• There are growing numbers of disabled clients
  wishing to access employment training programs
• Currently we are lobbying for more funds to
  accommodate these clients

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Human Resource Investment Fund(Employment
Insurance Benefits Support Measures)
Spirit Ridge Nk Mip ResortOsoyoos Indian Band

• An initiative to assist individuals to prepare
  for, obtain and maintain self-employment. This
  could involve work experience projects, the
  purchase of training, wage subsidies for
  employers and/or assistance in launching a
  business.

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Support Measures

• To assist organizations in the provision of
  employment services to individuals, and/or to
  encourage partnerships to support employers,
  employees and/or employer associations
  communities to deal with local human resource
  requirements

Penticton Indian Band Trades Training 2004
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Unique Program Delivery

• OTDC has modified programs based on previous HRSD
  programs but adjusted to better suit local needs.
  

NkMip Heritage Centre staff in Osoyoos

• Each area provides programs to meet the needs
  of its clients.

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Low Cost Administration

• Less money is spent on administration by OTDC
• Less money on administration than anywhere else
  in British Columbia, perhaps, in Canada

• Less money on administration means more money for
  programs

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Projects that Meet a Community Need
Osoyoos Multimedia Training Multimedia projects
involving, 3D studio max-animation, video
editing, music creation, video effect and more
Osoyoos Indian Band Multi media and computer
graphics technician, Frank is still working with
the band and developing great production,
filming, and has recently develop a design for
OIBDCs promotion items.
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Programs and Services - Geared to the Area!
Osoyoos
View of Hedley Mascot Mine after construction
showing descending stairs
Helicopter view of Hedley Mascot Mine before
upgrading

• We believe that a story is to be told of mining
  history that goes back thousands of yearsand
  that we are providing a stage that will take your
  breathe away." Chief Rick Holmes, Upper
  Similkameen Indian Band
• -

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W.R. Bennett Bridge

• Employment opportunities for Westbank on the new
  William R. Bennett Bridge construction

Shawn George completed the Iron works program and
is presently working on the W.R.B. Bridge
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Lower Similkameen

• We had a crew cutting and delivering wood to
  those who needed, elders who couldnt go out got
  to visit. This year was one of our most
  successful and smooth sailing seasons for
  involving community members

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A Success Story is Measured by Success

• First Nations Employment Center Vernon Dealing
  with the FNES provided a safe and culturally
  appropriate environment for me to work from and
  with. I was treated with dignity and not as a
  number. Wendy Chanin
• Upper Similkameen -The Band is very community
  minded and employs both native and non-native
  people within the various operations that come
  under their control. The Band employs
  approximately thirty-five people on a full time
  basis, and employees exceed one hundred during
  the peak summer season.

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Success in Terms of Individual Achievements

• Lower Similkameen During my 10 months on OTDC I
  have learned an enormous amount in regards to the
  political aspect of the governmental system and
  how it affects the dealings of the First Nations
  people. In learning throughout the year, it has
  helped me understand the issues that First
  Nations have faced in the past and have yet to
  face in the future and the importance of working
  together. This program has enabled me to enhance
  my practical and knowledge in the area of
  Administration K.V.Terbasket Public Admin
  student

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Training for the future

• Okanagan Indian Band Employment Training
  Department
• One of the participants in the OUC 10 month
  welding program, have taken their training 1 step
  further and has completed the 24 week, BCIT Iron
  Working Program. It is expected that he will
  continue to pursue his welding apprenticeship and
  employment as an Iron Worker.

• Dear Floyd I am now done my course. I finished
  2nd and received a free ironworker belt from the
  union when I signed up.

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Ongoing Training

• The Kelowna Friendship Society- Hope Lemp was
  interested in working in health care and
  initiated a 4-week work placement on her own at
  one of the senior homes and because she felt this
  was for her is now enrolled in Resident Care Aide
  at OUC. Sponsored by OTDC.
• Lower Columbia All First Nations -I am writing to
  you to thank you very much for all of the support
  and encouragement you have given me over the past
  4 years. On May 20, 2005 I finished my 4th year
  of school for my electrician apprenticeship. I
  finished with 94 for the year. I also wrote my
  inter-provincial exam and was very happy with
  finishing all of my apprenticeship with a 92 on
  inter-provincial. There is no way that I could
  have gone through my schooling without your
  financial support and I thank you once again.
  Julie Claire Hamilton Electrician

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OTDC Continues
To encourage self-sufficiency and address locally
defined needs and priorities of aboriginal
communities through employment and training
services.
The OTDC continues to expand and grow as the
staff in the communities develop more expertise
in the delivery of programs and services.
Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a
common vision. The ability to direct individual
accomplishments toward organizational objectives.
It is the fuel that allows common people to
obtain uncommon results. Andrew Carnegie