Mineral Exploration

Photograph : Nor thwe st Communit y College S chool of E xploration & Mining F A L L 2 0 1 5 15 I nnovative collaboration is the future of British Columbia's mineral exploration and mining industry, and a recent training venture between the Nisga'a Nation and the Northwest Community College School of Exploration & Mining (NWCC SEM) is leading by example. In early 2014, the Wilp Wilxo'oskwhl Nisga'a Institute (WWNI) contacted NWCC to request an on-site version of the school's Environmental Monitor Assistant Program (EMAP). NWCC had the program ready to be delivered, but there were logistical and financial challenges to be overcome if NWCC hoped to teach in the remote northwest corner of British Columbia. Allie Glavina, industry education liaison for SEM, explains why the Nisga'a chose the program: "EMAP has a lot of really transferable skills. These students can work as field assistants [and] environmental monitoring assistants, in construction, mining, forestry. So the hope is that they take the views and the industry participation from this project and apply them to a variety of industries across B.C." She adds, "It's really important for our students to get some industry experience so that they have a realistic view of where they can take the training that they receive here, and how their training fits into the industry pro- cesses that drive much of the economy across British Columbia." So, over the next several months, SEM and WWNI reached out to everyone involved in the area and asked them to play a part. Proposals were written, meetings were held and grants were requested. "We tried to meet with all levels of Village government and balance the different needs and desires of the numerous orga- nizations," says Danielle Smyth, projects administrator of SEM. Funding came from the Nisga'a Employment, Skills & Training department and from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. In-kind support was provided by Alloycorp Mining Inc., owners of the Avanti Kitsault Mine that sits on Nisga'a territory. WWNI provided teaching space School's in A PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHWEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE IMPROVES TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NISGA'A NATION By AnAstAsiA Ledwon Learning transferable skills close to home: Nisga'a students Aaron Lewis, Codey Stewart, Alfred Stewart, Leona Stewart, Christipher Willie, Bruce Azak, Robert Stevens and Richard Benson studying terrestrial ecosystem mapping near the Nass River.

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