Andrea Markey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 28/05) - With news of the Mackenzie Gas Project proceeding to public hearings, and continued mineral exploration around the North, women will have an increasingly larger role to play in meeting the demand for labour in the NWT resource sectors.

Ways to encourage and support women in resource development was a theme at the Native Women's Association meeting in Yellowknife recently. Kiera Kolson presented the recommendations from her small working group to the nearly 50 women attending the conference from around the Territories. - Andrea Markey/NNSL photo

Getting women interested and involved in these careers was one theme of the recent three-day Native Women's Association of the NWT meeting.

"The idea of rotation work (at the mines) itself is not new to us with men traditionally going trapping for long periods of time, but for the younger generation it is new," said Grace Mackenzie, manager with Behcho Ko Development Corp., speaking to the nearly 50 women in attendance.

"We need to talk with our elders to see how they managed and kept families intact and healthy," she said.

For those already involved in trades and resource development, it is important they know their rights, she said.

"They have the right to ask for a translator if they don't understand what is happening," she said. "They need to ask for training. They need to be aggressive and ask, ask, ask."

Being ready for development was also emphasized by other panel members, including Cece McCauley of Norman Wells.

"If we want to be a part of the action that's coming, we have to get ready," she said, suggesting a college be located in the Sahtu region so young people wouldn't have to travel so far.

Once women are in the trades, it is important for them to know where to go if they need help, said Eileen Marlowe, project co-ordinator with Women in Mining, Oil and Gas through the Status of Women Council of the NWT.

Job retention is one of the three main barriers for women in the trades. The other two are the lack of women-only trade training programs, and child care, she said.

Rather than quitting a job if they are having family or work-related problems, there needs to be someone who can help them work through it, she said.

Resource development on terms aboriginal people agree with is essential, said Kiera Kolson, a Gwich'in youth representative at the meeting.

"We should be the ones saying how development is going to happen," she said.