Indigenous Peoples

Indigenous Peoples represent the fastest growing and youngest population in Canada, offering critical potential to address skills shortages. Yet systemic inequities in access to education and training persist, resulting in lower employment outcomes and increased vulnerability to economic downturns.

The program focused on building metacognition (awareness or understanding of one’s own thinking), communication and problem-solving skills through flexible, experiential and reflective learning delivered in co-op programs across humanities, social sciences and STEM disciplines.

The Leveraging Technology to Develop Modern Mining Skills project, led by NORCAT with support from the Future Skills Centre, explored the potential for augmented reality and virtual reality to address labour and safety challenges in mining and construction. By incorporating simulations into core training programs, the project aimed to provide safer, more accessible practice environments for new workers while testing whether immersive tools could improve learning outcomes.

The initiative focused on enhancing small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) in resource management, renewable energy, tourism and cultural ventures. These businesses, vital for self-determination and economic diversification, were shown to be vulnerable during COVID-19 due to their seasonal nature and lack of long-term planning.

This project was administered by the College of the North Atlantic, with the Newfoundland and Labrador Workforce Innovation Centre and the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills. It aimed to test and evaluate the impact of Regional Workforce Development Committees.