Indigenous Skills and Employment Training

The Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program is a federal initiative that supports Indigenous organizations and communities to design and deliver culturally grounded employment and skills services. Through flexible, long-term funding, the ISET program enables First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban service delivery organizations to respond to labour market needs while advancing economic self-determination and prosperity.

Since 2024, the Future Skills Centre has worked closely with ISET holders, and partners including National ISET Gathering convener Darian Kovacs and Gerald Gosselin at Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Our work focuses on strengthening relationships and coordination across Indigenous, federal, provincial, and territorial governments, alongside employers and philanthropic organizations. To date, FSC sponsored and co-hosted the Indigenous Skills and Training Career Symposium in Vancouver (May 2025) and sponsored a Workforce Sector Lunch and Private Funder Dinner as part of the National ISET Gathering (January 2026).

By fostering meaningful collaboration and advancing shared learning, the Future Skills Centre is helping build connected pathways for Indigenous learners and workers. This work is a part of our broader vision to develop a more responsive, inclusive, and future-ready skills ecosystem.

ISET Event Report – May 2025

In May 2025, the Future Skills Centre, in partnership with Jelly Academy Inc. co-hosted an in-person, two-day Innovative Indigenous Career and Future Skills Symposium.

Blog: Walking the Talk by FSC’s Sonia Boskov

Sonia Boskov, Research and Evaluation Associate at FSC, reflects on her time spent at the 2025 Innovative Indigenous Career and Future Skills Symposium.