Starting today, the BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association (BC AMTA) will begin mining stories of strength and success from across the province and sharing them three times a week.
They’re the stories of people from the province’s First Nations communities discovering new potential as they gain the skills they need to find meaningful employment in the mining sector.
Each individual has a story to share, says BC AMTA executive director Laurie Sterritt, and that’s why BC AMTA has partnered with a team of generative journalists from Axiom News to share these stories.
Axiom News works with organizations and communities across North America to explore and develop their strengths and possibilities through high-frequency news stories that allow people to learn from and inspire one another.
“We see this program offering people a chance to turn away from constant problem solving to realize new possibilities and opportunities,” says Axiom News CEO and founder Peter Pula.
“We’re eager to discover and share the stories of impact that are happening within families and communities while asking how they impact the grander economic transitions we see happening in Canada and around the world.”
Laurie sees the impact everyday, and in keeping with the aboriginal tradition of sharing stories and knowledge as a means of connecting us all, the news service is now underway.
The news to be shared will be of industry leaders partnering with communities to fill a void in skilled labour, as well as of community members working to influence the responsible development of natural resources in a way that honours and respects the fragility of ecosystems.
The stories will be a valuable opportunity to share examples of BC AMTA’s mandate at work, Laurie says.
A young man is able to buy his first home after training, studying and landing a job with a respectable salary, for example.
A grandmother earns her high school diploma and moves into the next stage of training — it’s not for her benefit that she’s worked tirelessly for more than a year, she says; she’s doing it for her grandchildren.
Another man is trained to be the eyes of environmental oversight of a new mine’s operations, and he brings to the job a keen understanding of the sacred balance between man and the spirits of the natural world; people have faith in his ability to protect that which they cherish.
The confidence and empowerment that comes with knowledge and access to well-paid positions in an industry that’s hungry for workers has the ability to transform lives.
“We have individuals, families and communities who are now seeing more genuine confidence in their membership,” Laurie says. “We have a person who didn’t have a job or any prospects for sustainable employment who now sees a future.”
Since the organization, which grew out of necessity to fill gaps in labour availability, first began operations, 368 people have found meaningful employment, nearly 70 per cent of whom transitioned from unemployment.
More than 1,100 people are currently undergoing training in some aspect of the program, and industry leaders and aboriginal leaders are benefiting from a renewed sense of partnership in the development of natural resources.
If you have any stories you’d like to share about your connection to BC AMTA, or its connection to your community, please contact kristian(at)axiomnews.ca, or call 800-294-0051, ext. 24.
A version of this article was originally posted to the BC AMTA news service. This repost follows the style guidelines of the original post. To learn more about generative newsroom options for your organization or community, please contact peter(at)axiomnews.ca.
