Chief and council at Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, and Lean Man First Nation's Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony on Aug. 18. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

First Nation plans for growth

Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, and Lean Man First Nation signs MOU for training, future growth

Aug 19, 2020 | 1:10 PM

Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, and Lean Man First Nation (MGBHLM) has plans for more growth ahead.

Chief and council joined participants in the new heavy equipment operator training course for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony Tuesday.

The event was held outside at what is now known as MGBHLM Ridge, formerly the Oblates site, south of Battleford. MGBHLM will develop its own Business Centre and Training, and Employment facility at this location in the future.

The First Nation completed COVID-19 precautions prior to the ceremony.

The MOU agreement between MGBHLM chief and council, MGBHLM Economic Development and Heart Lake Construction Ltd. will provide training for MGBHLM members and establish a partnership for future development within the First Nation.

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“A number of initiatives will be taking place within our nation,” Chief Tanya Aguilar-Antiman said. “In order for us to move ahead in some of those areas, for example the housing strategy, we need workers. So what is best is to invest in your people, to build capacity.”

She said the First Nation will start by offering the heavy equipment operator course to its members in the program to give them the skills needed for the community’s future development.

Some of the individuals who complete the training course will be involved in preparing sites for a proposed new housing project for the First Nation in the future.

“This young group of trainees that will take a lead in making that a reality,” Aguilar-Antiman said.

Once the students complete the course, they will also be qualified to pursue career opportunities in other communities as well.

Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nation is offering heavy equipment operator training. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

Some of the projects the trainees will take part in on the First Nation after they complete their course work, include making improvements to roads, powwow grounds, the racetrack, new housing sites, as well as property clean up initiatives.

Heart Lake Construction, a First Nation owned and operated business, also has several oil field projects in the Fort McMurray area and is always looking for more trained workers. So the MGBHLM operators may have an opportunity to pursue career opportunities there as well in the future.

“They are providing us training and also mentoring, and really a recruiting tool for future employees within their oil sands,” Aguilar-Antiman said.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW