The Indigenous Skills and Employment Training (ISET) Program is designed to support Indigenous people with a goal of becoming gainfully employed. The program offers financial support that helps Our People prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment.
What We Do
Our ISET team coordinates culturally safe job training opportunities and other services for individuals as they seek to enter the job market. What we offer is based on the goals of the community member seeking employment and can include:
Service Contacts
To schedule an appointment with your local Employment Training Officer, please refer to the contact list below.
Oinpegitjoig First Nation
506.548.9211
Ugpi’Ganjig First Nation
506.684.6277
Metepenagiag Mi’kmaq Nation
506.836.6111
Natoaganeg First Nation
506.627.4600
Amlamgog First Nation
506.379.3400
Tjipogtotjg First Nation
506.743.2520
L’nui Menikuk First Nation
506.523.9795
Background
The Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program was originally created as part of the Labour Market Strategy to bridge the unemployment gap between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous labour force. This program replaced the former Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS). Its purpose is to “reduce the skills gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people by half, and reduce the employment gap by 25%” (Government of Canada, 2023).
“The Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program provides funding to Indigenous service delivery organizations that design and deliver job training services to First Nations in their communities and is designed to help Indigenous people improve their skills and find employment” (Government of Canada, 2023a).
The ISET Program builds on what was successful about the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy and reflects what was heard from Indigenous partners to include:
- a co-developed program with Indigenous partners;
- increased funding;
- greater flexibility for organizations to design programming to meet the needs of their people and communities; and
- a new distinctions-based strategy that recognizes, respects and reflects Canada’s Indigenous peoples, specifically the First Nations, Métis and Inuit, but also addresses urban/non-affiliated service delivery needs.”
Our Team
Michael Girouard
ISET Program Manager
Krista Cloud
ISET Program Coordinator