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LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON - For Dennis Nelner, it wasn't about the donation so much as it was about raising awareness.

Nelner is the band manager at the Liidlii Kue First Nation band office. He receives a per-diem of $165. Instead of putting it in the bank, Nelner decided it would be best used to bring awareness to the need for training in trades and technology. He donated the $165 to trades and technology programs at Thomas Simpson school.

Dennis Nelner, left, band manager for the Liidlii Kue First Nation, presents Thomas Simpson school principal Robert Byatt, right, with a $165 donation to be used towards the trades and technology classes offered at the school. - Andrew Livingstone/NNSL photo

"I want to challenge industry, government and private sector that this should be a number one priority with respect to education," he said.

"Either we're going to have to bring in people from outside this country or we need to start concentrating on our own."

There needs to be a focus on the trades in the school system, Nelner said. If the school system gives students more opportunities to be exposed to trades and technology it will give them more possibilities for their future.

"In my mind I don't think it's being taught enough and they don't have enough resources to open people up to the possible opportunities available in the trade industry," he said. "We don't have a lot of money to direct towards these things. It's not filling the need and not enough attention is being brought to it."

Thomas Simpson school principal Robert Byatt said about 15 to 20 years ago the school system removed trades training from the schools, due to a push by industry to let the training be left to the trade schools.

"I was extremely suspect of the whole thing," he said. "It was just too in tune with funding cuts and moving money from trades training to other parts of the education system. Now we are seeing a serious crisis looming."

The effect the lack of trades people will have on the North, especially smaller communities like Fort Simpson, will be more obvious than around the rest of the country and it's something we need to look at sooner rather than later, he said.

"We have very few plumbers in the community and one that should have retired five years ago," he said.

"He's like the energizer bunny, he keeps going and going, but for how long? Who do we have in the wings to take over what needs to be done in that? This is one example of an immediate need.

"From basic home renovations to market housing construction and everything else in between there is a general lack of tradespeople and as the baby boomers get older and retire we're going to see a big problem."

Byatt said giving students access to all the possible career options out there will make for a more informed decision about their future.

"I believe it's very important to give kids some exposure to trades," he said.

"If you give them exposure to working with their hands, creating things, how things work - just the basic things - it will benefit them in the long run."