Inuvik (Oct 11/04) - Aboriginals wanting to acquire oil and gas industry skills will soon be provided with the necessary training opportunities.

Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew last week announced the launch of the NWT Oil and Gas Aboriginal Skills Development Strategy program.

Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew announced that $13.3 million will be invested in the Skills Development Strategy -- an initiative designed to provide oil and gas industry training to aboriginals. - Dorothy Westerman/NNSL photo

"I'm delighted to see that projects under ASEP (Aboriginal Skills and Employment Program) are now coming on-stream and offering aboriginal people the exceptional opportunity to take part in this major economic initiative," Blondin-Andrew told a crowd at Aurora College in Inuvik.

Part of the five-year, $85 million ASEP program, this new oil and gas skills program is the first of five projects approved for funding since ASEP was announced by Human Resource and Skills Development in October 2003.

"The reason for ASEP is to bring job opportunities close to home and to encourage you to head into careers and vocations that are waiting right outside your doorstep," Blondin-Andrew said.

As a result of the ASEP initiative, the Aboriginal Futures Society was formed to "promote the training, education and employment of aboriginal people in the petroleum industry of the Northwest Territories."

Members of the society include the Dehcho First Nations, the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Sahtu Dene Council.

It will also include four industry members: ConocoPhillips Canada (North) Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited, the Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline Corp. and Shell Canada.

The GNWT Education, Culture and Employment department will also become a member.

In total, $13.3 million in training will be delivered over the next three-and-a-half years to the NWT.

Nellie Cournoyea, chair and CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, said the participating oil and gas companies have tied into the educational processes at Aurora College.

"What we really need right now is a firm commitment from those individuals who have the opportunity to take part," Cournoyea said. "What we can do is provide an opportunity."

The skills development strategy is expected to result in the training of 1,366 individuals, providing 547 jobs.