P.E.I. to spend $1.67M to support skills training, employment for Indigenous Peoples

Prince Edward Island's provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa on July 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

The P.E.I. government has renewed funding to support skills training and employment for Indigenous Peoples.

A four-year agreement with the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI will see SkillsPEI receive $1.67M in funding to support 144 Indigenous participants. Two programs will be offered:

• a project-based program based on personalized mentorship and hands-on experience promoting the development of transferable skills
• a Workforce Essential Skills program that provides the opportunity for adult learners to have practical learning experiences within Lennox Island First Nation

“These programs demonstrate the value of tailored support and mentorship, as they offer pathways to employment, while providing meaningful personal and professional growth,” said Jenn Redmond, minister of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population, in a news release from the government.

“We appreciate the ongoing support to provide meaningful workplace and skills training opportunities for Mi’kmaq and Indigenous Peoples living in Epekwitk. This agreement will allow us to build sustainable plans that provide meaningful interventions and training opportunities for each First Nation,” said Kateri Coade, with the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI, in the release.

The province says both programs are facilitated by the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI under the direction of the Epekwitk Assembly of Councils.

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