PATHWAY TO STRENGHTHENING THE ALGONQUIN ANISHINABE WORKFORCE

The meaning of our logo:

  • The Roots symbolizes the underlying issues encountered by of our Anishinabe Tradespeople and Anishinabe Contractors.
  • A seed has been planted to examine, address and remedy existing barriers and to enhance capacity of our Nation’s Tradespeople.
  • The tree branches are the solid results of the networks established, the strategies/tools that will be developed and partnerships built to ensure all proper support services are in place for our Algonquin Anishinabe Tradespeople/Nation in the area of Construction.
  • The sun symbolizes a New Horizon and the Four Directions of our Anishinabe Nation.
  • The four (4) feathers represent the four (4) Nations (white, black, red, yellow) who will work in collaboration with the Nation to promote the visibility of Algonquin Anishinabe Tradespeople within the construction industry and promote socio-economic advancement and opportunities. 

DECONTIE CONSTRUCTION INC. AND MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACTING INC.

The partnership:

   With many achieved missions, a joined vision and their expertise, Decontie Construction Inc. and Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. formed Decontie Milestone Inc, who has since then obtained a considerable reputation for inclusivity. They took it upon themselves to provide the communities with a tool to empower tradespeople and help them improve the socio-economic conditions within their families, communities and their nation overall. We are pleased to share that we are recipients of a Sectorial Initiatives Program grant through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for this 3-year pilot PSAAW project.

It is unprecedented and unique that a private sector Algonquin Anishinabe general contractor designs a software with innovative strategies that supports and promotes the community members, tradespeople, within the sector.

HOW CAN PSAAW HELP?

The Algonquin Anishinabe Nation has a shared history of working in the construction industry as a means to provide for their families and communities. Despite their experience and skills, they continue to encounter many systemic and administrative barriers that have led to a large socio-economic gap and limited opportunities.

  • That is where the Pathway to Strengthening the Algonquin Anishinabe Workforce project comes in. In order to be rewarding, this project needs to team up and network with existing Anishinabe communities, support services, funding agencies and educational institutions. Together, they can improve the economic realities of the Algonquin Anishinabe Nation.
  • With a collaborative approach, the team aims to identify and address systemic gaps and create awareness within the construction industry. In order to do that, they will:
  • Gather industry-driven Labor Market Information (LMI) on Algonquin Anishinabe representation and integration in the construction and remediation labor markets;
  • Establish resources to help employers and contractors recruit and retain more Indigenous People;
  • Raise awareness among Algonquin Anishinabe communities, employers, employees, organizations and educational institutions on the opportunities and benefits of employing more Indigenous People
  • Create a Case Management Model (CMM) through the development of a software to facilitate the certification, training and retention of Algonquin Anishinabe in the industry.

THE PSAAW TEAM:

Andrew Decontie, President

Barry Grover, Secretery

Gavin Domitter, Regional Director

Wanda Thusky, Director General

Coreen Commonda, Administrator

Yancey Thusky, Liason Officer

Jamie Commonda, Project Manager

Tammy Cote, Project Coordinator

Irene Maris, Communications Coordinator

Randy McDougall, Software Developer

THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION

The team also believes that a thorough understanding of the Indigenous People’s past is important in order to move forward together. In unity, Decontie Construction Inc. and Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. encourage inclusiveness and reconciliation. They are collaboratively demonstrating that partnerships between Algonquin Anishinabe owned and non-Indigenous companies can be possible and successful.

PEJIK MIKAN

CASE MANAGEMENT MODEL

The PSAAW Case Management Model will be developed to be utilized as a tool by the Algonquin Nation Communities to manage their Labor Market Information as a means of recruitment, assessment, training, integration and retention of their construction workforce. This CMM will produce community and client profiles, an inventory of construction contractors and suppliers, financial support programs, educational institutions and a step-by-step guide to assist the successful integration of Algonquin-Anishinabe workers in the construction industry. This will be achieved through genuine partnership, commitment and engagement between Indigenous Nations Communities and non-Indigenous peoples. This CMM will help eliminate the administrative and systemic barriers regarding how Algonquin Anishinabe should be involved in all planning and implementation phases of the construction industry. Our communities, leaders, and front-line workers will be equipped and prepared to promote construction projects’ inclusiveness within our territories.

By the implementation of the CMM Software, it will assist our Communities by:

  • Identifying, organizing and maintaining the different levels of Labor Market Information (LMI) of construction within your respective community & territory.
  • Accessing the number & type of your current construction workforce on & off your reserve.
  • Accessing and recording the different educational/trade schools & their support services for your members.
  • Accessing the qualifications of your current tradespeople in your community/off-reserve.
  • Tracking the number of people utilizing social support and assistance programs.
  • Identifying potential workers interested in getting into the industry, with certification or not.
  • Developing performance indicators and measurement strategies.
  • Activing recruitment through the system.
  • Aligning training and on-the-job employment requirement.
  • Assisting with apprenticeship and mentorship placements in respective sectors.
  • Registering, tracing career path and align training programs for recruits.
  • Aligning Training and Employment requirements with training institutions.
  • Accelerating member registrations to the inventory and interest in projects.
  • Certification and employment of Algonquin Anishinabe Labor Force.
  • Implementing a mandatory hiring quota for all service providers on-site to engage qualified Algonquin Anishinabe on all aspects of a project.
  • Assessing and record contractor suppliers within the communities and the territory.
  • Assessing of the education trades institutions are meeting the needs of our members within those programs.
  • Assisting for transition of new employees or temporary replacements.
  • Sharing of information between communities on workforce
  • Sharing of information about types of projects in respective territories/capabilities