Receives funding to train Tahltan heavy equipment operators; skills for enhanced opportunities.

In an exciting move that will provide job opportunities for Tahltans and expand the mining workforce available in British Columbia's Golden Triangle, Tahltan Nation Development Corp. has received funding from the B.C. Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills – Indigenous Skills Training and Education Program to support a second year of the literal and figurative groundbreaking Tahltan Heavy Equipment Operator program.

Considered the business arm of the Tahltan Nation – a Canadian First Nation's people that calls approximately 70% of BC's famed Golden Triangle home for generations – TNDC is a corporation owned by its people through the Tahltan Band, Iskut Band, and the Tahltan Central Government.

Comprised of approximately 4,500 to 5,000 individuals, with roughly 15% living in Talhtan Territory communities such as Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake, and Iskut, with the remaining 85% spread outside the region, its Territory covers 93,500 square kilometers (36,100 square miles) that runs parallel along the Alaska-Canada border and includes part of Yukon.

Today, Tahltan Territory accounts for roughly 41% of BC's total exploration activities. This equates to roughly 6.3% of mineral exploration in Canada and 0.9% of the world total.

As part of its goal to safeguard its lands and people, the Tahltan Nation has become increasingly active in the involvement of modern mining companies within its borders. Holding similar legal rights to its lands much like Alaska's Native Corporations, jurisdiction is held by the Nation, and any exploration or development must be broached first through them.

Although mining has long been tied to Tahltan culture, and its activities support them economically, it is never at the expense of its heritage or environment.

"Mining has always been a part of our culture, both in the past and in present-day times. For thousands of years, our people prospected, mined, and utilized obsidian for tools, weaponry, and trade," said Tahltan Central Government President Chad Day. "More recently, Tahltans supported miners during the gold rush and have had operating mines in our homelands for multiple generations."

To stress its resolution, in recent years, the Nation had to hold fast to its ideals of respect and put a foot down, expressing it means business when it comes to its home.

"It is imperative that exploration and mining companies wishing to operate within Tahltan Territory do so in a respectful manner, as they are guests in Tahltan Territory with provincial permits, most of which were not granted with Tahltan support or consent," Tahltan Central Government penned in a statement.

Nevertheless, opportunities for its people ultimately come first and while acknowledging the benefits of mining within its territories is one thing, opening avenues for education, skills, and prosperity is another.

HEO program

The Tahltan HEO program is a multi-faceted course designed to build skill capacity in Tahltan communities across multiple areas: drivers' licenses and driving for employment; developing new heavy equipment operators; and continuing to grow current heavy equipment operators into mentors, trainers, and instructors.

A key strategy to the success of the program is offering support for the acquisition of Class 4, 5, and 7 licenses within the Territory.

Due to its remote location, just acquiring a driver's license is a significant barrier to employment in northern communities and is even more imperative when needed to operate equipment. Expanding on its first year, the second has been designed to cover commercial licenses up to Class 1, which would enable access to employment in many critical industries in Northern BC.

"The inaugural year of our HEO program-February to June 2023-has already had a profound impact on the lives of several Tahltans," said Tahltan Nation Development Corp. CEO Paul Gruner. "A total of 103 Tahltans completed training, including 70 drivers licence students, 29 mentors trained, and four Heavy Equipment Operators successfully completed their Mining Industry HR Council Common Competencies and Skilled Trades BC Roadbuilders certifications. These four individuals (HEO) also passed their TNDC technical verification of competencies and found employment for the summer season."

Developed in partnership with the Provincial Government, Iskut Band, Tahltan Band, Newcrest Mining, CAT Finning, Procon Mining & Tunnelling, Arrow Transportation, Bandra Transportation, Lakes District Maintenance, Mining Industry HR Council, Centre for Training Excellence in Mining – BC, Contact North BC, Tahltan Central Government, and Thompson Rivers University to address skill shortages within the region, the program also provides on-the-job practical work experience to set participants up for success.

"Building off the success of this inaugural year-one pilot, the HEO program is moving forward with its expanded program framework to increase the impact in enhancing skills capacity of Tahltan individuals," continued Gruner. "With the newly acquired funding, we are poised to extend the reach of the HEO program, with new programs and partners, and magnify its profound and lasting impact. Inclusion of the Class 1 driver's licence shows our ongoing commitment to Tahltan members to enhance their skills and employability for future opportunities in the region and beyond."

With an encouraging financial commitment, continued support from partners, and the monumental success of such a graduating body from the first year, the momentum appears to be building. If results from the second year are similar to year one, the Tahltan HEO program could offer a stable foundation that could benefit generations of Tahltans to come.