Technical Employment with Hydro-Québec (TEHQ) Program
Under the Apatisiiwin Agreement, Hydro-Québec committed to hiring a minimum of 150 qualified Cree employees to work in the James Bay territory by March 31st, 2017. Niskamoon Corporation and the Cree School Board have worked in partnership to ensure that formal training is provided to James Bay Cree beneficiaries in order to access this permanent employment with Hydro-Québec.
The program began in August 2003, and this year marked the end of the agreement. There were 23 graduates in the final graduation ceremony in June 2017 – eight graduates in Industrial Construction and Maintenance Mechanics and fifteen graduates in Automated Systems Electro-Mechanics. Female students represented 44% of the total student population in these last two cohorts. With this year’s graduates, there will now be 108 Crees working at Hydro-Québec.
Natural Environment Technology (NET) Program
Niskamoon Corporation, in partnership with the Business and Community Service of Centre d’études collégiales in Chibougamau, offered the 3-year Natural Environment Technology (NET) Program.
The NET Program was a provincially recognized professional course for James Bay Cree beneficiaries with a desire to work in the environment sector. Through the program’s unique educational approach, using environmental professionals and Cree elders, students learn about use and management of natural resource management, sustainable development, and environmental protection. With 60% fieldwork and 40% theory, they were taught in the classroom and in the natural environment of Eeyou Istchee.
The program is given in Chibougamau, however it is on hold at the moment.