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Applications were accepted in 2021 with the hope of building at least 10 tiny homes by mid-2022. By the end of the project, 32 tiny homes had been built in 22 indigenous communities.

Thirty-five apprentices contributed to the work on the tiny homes along with 98 secondary students. Some participants continued their journey in the skilled trades following the project and indentured as apprentices, with apprentices continuing to be signed up as residual project work finishes.

As of June 2022, Indigenous apprentices made up 18 per cent of Saskatchewan’s apprenticeship population. According to Statistics Canada data from the 2021 Census, 17 per cent of Saskatchewan’s population self-identifies as Indigenous.

Chris Stubbs, director of innovation and inclusion at the SATCC, says the commission continues to pursue opportunities working with Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan.

“We want to ensure we’re facilitating a diverse, inclusive apprenticeship system,” said Stubbs “Projects like the tiny homes continue this work – strengthening relationships, providing training opportunities and helping meet the needs of the communities.”

Each year, the SATCC oversees and administers the Indigenous Apprenticeship Initiative (IAI) program, which funds initiatives that aim to increase Indigenous people’s awareness of, and participation in, apprenticeship training and the designated trades. Past projects have included apprenticeship and upgrading training, job coaching and mentoring, and courses aimed at high school students.

Looking forward, the SATCC will participate in the introduction of an innovative Indigenous Welder training program on Ochapowace Nation. The program will offer pre-employment training with the goal of training and indenturing welder apprentices.

“The tiny homes showed the impact that a project like this can have on young people, providing them with experience in the trades and the tools to succeed in their future careers,” said Stuffs. “We’re excited to continue

work like this.” l

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