Significant step towards training
Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services
Iqaluit (Nov 20/00) - Training opportunities blossomed for Nunavummiut last week as two more companies joined the Kitikmeot Employment and Training Partners.
Sean Peterson, the manager of the nonprofit organization in Cambridge Bay, said the new partners would have a significant impact on training initiatives for Inuit in the region.
Created last December to ensure Inuit were properly trained to meet present and future employment needs, KETP has trained several residents as heavy equipment operators to date.
From his office last Tuesday afternoon, Peterson said the presence of DeBeers Canada Exploration Inc. and Northern Transportation Company Limited (NTCL) would help guide the group in the next direction and training initiative they'll undertake.
"They want to employ Northern people and they want to train Northern people," said Peterson, noting the new presence brought the number of partners up to 31.
"They wanted to get on board with an organization serious about training people and they recognize (us) as a legitimate training group," he said.
Peterson said DeBeers told him they had been monitoring the group and wanted to be a part of it -- so much so that DeBeers said they would introduce KETP to potential funders interested in backing a diamond drillers' helpers course. The introductions will take place at the Geosciences Forum in Yellowknife this week.
DeBeers and NTCL were not available for comment.
