The kanātan nipīy program meets the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls To Action by providing pathways to employment in water treatment for Indigenous learners
January 6, 2023 – The kanātan nipīy (the water is clean/clean water) program for Indigenous learners, which was first offered in 2019, is continuing for 2023. Indigenous learners are encouraged to sign up for the kanātan nipīy program to gain essential skills and access employment opportunities in water treatment and distribution facilities. Trained employees who can operate and maintain water and waste systems to provide clean drinking water are needed in the City of Saskatoon and Indigenous communities across Saskatchewan.
This program is a collaborative effort between the City of Saskatoon, Gabriel Dumont Institute, Radius Community Centre, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, and the Saskatoon Tribal Council. The 2023 program starts on February 13. A presentation and Q&A about the program is being held at Cosmo Civic Centre on January 10, from 1 to 2 p.m. A second info session will be held on January 20 virtually from 12 - 1 p.m. via Microsoft Teams. Please join this info session at bit.ly/WaterTrainingProgram. Funding may be available to qualified applicants.
“The program included three months of in-class work. In that small timeframe we ended up getting a lot of good education, good skills to get a good career,” says Ashley Ratt, alumnus of the kanātan nipīy program. “Working with the City of Saskatoon was pretty fun. It was very independent work. The people working at the City were very inclusive. It was a great time and overall a great experience.”
The kanātan nipīy program includes essential skills training taught by the Radius Community Centre. Saskatchewan Polytech provides training in water treatment and distribution. Participants will also receive First Aid/CPR, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) training, and two weeks of work experience.
The kanātan nipīy program meets the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Call To Action
#92: Ensuring Indigenous peoples have access to jobs, training and education opportunities;
and they benefit from economic development. This project’s success is based on having
a cohesive team of community partners engaged for a single purpose: improving employment
options for Indigenous workers.
Ready to apply? Email copies of the following items to kanatannipiy.project@gmail.com:
- Grade 12 diploma/GED, plus transcripts. It is preferred students have completed Biology 30, Chemistry 30 and Math 30.
- Class 5 driver’s license and driver abstract for the last three months.
- Updated resumé including three references.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is signatory to the SDG Accord. Sustainable Development Goal alignment is one of the ways Sask Polytech is leading the rise of polytechnic education.
