Land-based training helps Indigenous youth build vocational skills, lasting relationships

CBC

a day ago

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Deep in western Manitoba's rolling hills and lush forest stand a group of Indigenous youth shaping their future — not only through learning vocational skills, but also through developing relationships.
The Outland Youth Employment Program, first established in 2000 to offer opportunities for Indigenous youth in Ontario's forestry sector, has now become a national network of land-based education, training and work opportunities.
In Manitoba, the six-week program brings youth from across the country to one of its camps in Birch River, about 500 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, for training and educational opportunities.
Chita Cook, a 16-year-old member of Cross Lake First Nation in northern Manitoba, came to Birch River for the six weeks as a first-year participant.
She has big dreams of using the skills she learns to help others.
"I want to be an electrician, a journeyman electrician, so I can support myself and then all the people around me," she said.
"I already have everything I want, and I just want to help other people, because I know other people are struggling and they can use it more than I."
OYEP offers 15 different training and certification programs, including heavy equipment training, wildland firefighter training and tree planting.
First-year and second-year program participants are referred to as "rangers," while longer-tenured participants have the chance to become crew leaders and can go on to help run OYEP's day-to-day operations.
Second-year ranger Dorothy Dorion, 18, is a member of Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation in northern Manitoba. She calls Flin Flon, Man., home, but said returning to the OYEP camp for her second year was something she looked forward to.
"Being a second-year is kind of the same as being a first-year, but it just feels right — a lot more like home, in a sense."
OYEP was a big part of helping Dorion choose her future goals.
"I want to become a herbalist when I'm older, and go to college for ecology," she said.
One of the guides for an OYEP trail-building course gave her the idea.
That's something that Neepin Cook is very familiar with. She started her journey with OYEP in 2020 as a 16-year-old first-year ranger.
The now 21-year-old is nurturing a sense of determination in others who come through OYEP's camp doors.
"I've worked in every role — so that would be a ranger to a crew leader in training to a crew leader, and now a supervisor," she said.
Neepin's goals within the program have changed from year to year, but one thing that remains steadfast are her goals outside the program.
"Right now, I'm an undergraduate student. When I graduate with my environmental studies degree, I plan to go to law school and become an environmental lawyer," she said.
The work she did through OYEP, and the connections she made, are something she celebrates.
"I've made such a huge network, across provinces, and now, I'm also building my career elsewhere in environmental studies — but that ties to here, because a lot of my friends that I've made here have helped and supported me."
Through the careers made and skills learned, Chita Cook, Neepin Cook and Dorothy Dorion all identified the same thing as their favourite part of OYEP.
"The people," they said.