Program Description

The Aboriginal Human Resource Development Strategy was developed in 1999 by the federal government in response to the Gathering Strength document. Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) implemented the national Aboriginal Human Resource Strategy to continue to improve employment opportunities and self-reliance for Aboriginal people across Canada. Approximately 79 Aboriginal organizations or groups signed five-year agreements (April 1999 to March 2004) to implement and control their own human resource programs and services in their own communities. These are known as Aboriginal Human Resource Development Agreements (AHRDAs). This agreement was re-signed in September 2005 until March 2009.

The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) is one of the organizations that signed a five-year agreement and, therefore, is a holder of an AHRDA. Our mandate is to deliver employment assistance programming to off-reserve Aboriginal women. Currently, NWAC has 10 partner organizations called Provincial and Territorial Member Associations (PTMAs) that deliver employment and training initiatives on behalf of NWAC across the country. NWAC believes that our PTMAs are better suited to achieve our objective of enhancing employment and training opportunities to women across Canada. This relationship with our PTMAs is separate and unique from other AHRDA holders.

Employment and Training Program Objective

The objective of training/work experience interventions must be to improve the employment potential and earning capacity of Aboriginal Women residing off-reserve.

Eligibility Criteria

Aboriginal Women residing off-reserve living in the region may participate if they are unemployed, under-employed or employed and seeking assistance with employment maintenance. Clients may also apply if their work environment is subject to change or elimination due to technological or market change. All applicants must meet specific program criteria.

Application and Approval Process

The PTMA Coordinator has the overall responsibility of interviewing, selecting, and when and how appropriate, of referring persons to training. A wage subsidy application should be sent to the PTMA Coordinator for review.

Wherever possible, the client's training requests will accommodate their own training aspirations and service in their own communities.

Until a client and the training institution or employers are informed, in writing, that a funding application has been approved, the client and the training institution or employer assume all financial risk. Clients may not be reimbursed for costs associated with the training program if such costs and participation by the client are not approved prior to commencement.

General Conditions and Funding Guidelines

• The maximum commitment to a client is one year;
• Training must be certified, and in the case of private institutions, they must be registered with the responsible Provincial bodies;
• Applications for training that takes place outside the province may be considered based on the following - cost effectiveness, unique program requirements and availability, demonstrated link to employment, credibility of the training institution;
• Vocational/technical applications may be considered, including apprenticeship supports;
• Applications for part time training may be considered;
• Applications leading to College and University certification may be considered, but not for full University Degree programs;
• Adult Basic Education will be supported if funding is not available from local sources;
• Applications for purchasing correspondence and self-paced courses must demonstrate access to classroom, tutor, or on-site instructor, and the availability to complete within a reasonable time frame.

Programs Available for Funding

• Targeted Wage Subsidy;
• Self-employment;
• Job Creation Partnership;
• Skills Development;
• Youth Programs: a) Skills Link, b) Career Focus, c) Summer Work Experience;
• Programs for Persons with Disabilities (must be EI eligible).

Notes

• Client need is addressed on a case-by-case basis in determining eligibility for living expense supports;
• Assistance should not exceed the amount that would be reasonably expected as income following the training;
• Living expense supplements are paid directly to the client on a monthly basis;
• Non-incremental costs, such as clothing unrelated to the training or job, eye glasses, prescriptions, dental costs, etc., are not eligible for funding;
• In case of disability clients, certain non-incremental costs may be considered with proper documentation.

For more information on how you can apply for employment & training, please use the directory to contact your Regional Employment Counselor.

Alberta and British Columbia Residents Please Contact:

Alberta Aboriginal Women’s Society

P.O. Box 5168, STN MAIN
Peace River, AB
T8S 1R8

Telephone: 780.624.3416
Fax: 780.624.3409
Email: aaws@telusplanet.net

Manitoba Residents Please Contact:

Mother of Red Nations Women’s Council of Manitoba Inc.

141 Bannatyne Avenue, Suite 300
Winnipeg, MB
R3B 0R3

Telephone: 204.942.6676 or 1.866.258.6726
Fax: 204.942.7639
Email: morn@morn.ca
Website: http://morn.cimnet.ca/cim/92.dhtm

Newfoundland and Labrador Residents Please Contact:

Newfoundland Native Women’s Association

P.O. Box 22
Benoit’s Cove, NL
A0L 1A0

Telephone: 709.789.3430
Fax: 709.789.2207
Email: nf.nativewomen@nf.aibn.com

Northwest Territories Residents Please Contact:

Native Women's Association of the Northwest Territories

5017 - 49th Street

P.O. Box 2321
Yellowknife, NT
X1A 2P7

Telephone: 867.873.5509 or 1.866.459.1114
Fax: 867.873.3152
Email: reception@nativewomens.com

Website: http:/www.nativewomens.com

Nova Scotia Residents Please Contact:

Nova Scotia Native Women's Society

P.O. Box 805
Truro, NS
B2N 5E8

Telephone: 902.893.7402
Fax: 902.897.7162
Email: gracefrancis@eastlink.ca

Ontario Residents Please Contact:

Ontario Native Women’s Association

212 Miles Street East
Thunder Bay, ON
P7C 1J6

Telephone: 807.623.3442 or 1.800.667.0816
Fax: 807.623.1104
Email: onwa@onwa-tbay.ca

Website: http://www.onwa-tbay.ca

Prince Edward Island Residents Please Contact:

Aboriginal Women’s Association of Prince Edward Island

P.O. Box 145
Lennox Island, PE
C0B 1P0

Telephone: 902.831.3059
Fax: 902.831.3468
Email: awapei@pei.aibn.com

Québec and New Brunswick Residents Please Contact:

Québec Native Women Inc.

P.O. Box 1989
Kahnawàke, QC
J0L 1B0

Telephone: 450.632.0088 or 1.800.363.0322
Fax: 450.632.9280
Email: info@faq-qnw.org
Website: http://www.faq-qnw.org

Saskatchewan Residents Please Contact:

Saskatchewan Aboriginal Women's Circle Corporation

P.O. Box 1174
Yorkton, SK
S3N 2X3

Telephone: 306.783.1228
Fax: 306.783.1080
Email: sawcc.ahrda@sasktel.net

Website: http://www.sawcc.sk.ca

Yukon Residents Please Contact:

Yukon Aboriginal Women's Council

103-307 Jarvis Street
Whitehorse, YT
Y1A 2H3

Telephone: 867.667.6162 or 1.866.667.6162
Fax: 867.668.7539
Email: yawc@northwestel.net