Musselwhite Mine – Business – Graduates from the Oshki mining program celebrated a first today at the Musselwhite mine. Students were the first class of mining students who took their program at a working mine.
The Aboriginal Mining and Skilled Trades Entry Project (AMSTEP) brought together a group of partners to graduate students and get them on a path to a career in the mining industry.
Bill Gascon, the General Manager at Goldcorp said that having the students taking their course at the mine was a great way to fully introduce and teach them about the working process of a possible career in mining.
Oshki Students Celebrate Accomplishments
The students rose to the challenge.
It also likely gave the students a first hand experience into what it is like working at a mine. The students, part of a Cambrian College program run by Oshki from Thunder Bay was a two-week on, two week off cycle of work in the mine.
Today’s graduation celebration was hosted at the Goldcorp Musselwhite mine located in Northern Ontario.
There were 13 graduates who completed the program. Students were from North Caribou Lake First Nation and Wunnimim Lake First Nation.
Master of ceremonies for the ceremony was Shibastik, a Thunder Bay musician who performed for the graduates and their families.
Families, and dignitaries flew into the Musselwhite Mine on Wasaya Airways.
The celebration brought greetings from the Chiefs of North Caribou Lake First Nation and Wunniumin Lake First Nation. As well as encouragement and words of wisdom from Bill Gascon the General Manager for Goldcorp.
“The capacity of First Nation people in industry in the north is undeniably one of the most important solutions to poverty, to the labour shortage in all the trades is important for building stronger, and more vibrant communities. I commend the work of First Nation employment and training personnel and I commend First Nation leadership in the north for their determination,” says Ontario Regional Chief Isadore Day.
