JEDI Launches ‘Build Your Future’ Trades Trailer for Indigenous Youth
FREDERICTON – On Wednesday May 31, The Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI) launched a new Trades Trailer. Its theme is “Build Your Future” and Stanley Barnaby, JEDI’s CEO, says he hopes to introduce the skilled trades to Indigenous youth within the communities.
JEDI is an Indigenous organization dedicated to supporting Indigenous participation in New Brunswick’s economy. It works closely with partners from Indigenous communities, organizations, and more to help encourage Indigenous economic development in New Brunswick.
The JEDI Trades Trailer is roughly 25 feet long and filled with a variety of different interactive stations that focus on different skilled trades, such as plumbing, electrical, and carpentry.
“We really see it as an opportunity for them [Indigenous youth] to see themselves pursuing education in the trades, pursuing a career in the trades, and, you know, seeing it as a long-term career that will help provide them a living throughout their life,” Barnaby tells Huddle.
Barnaby says the Indigenous population is the fastest-growing population in New Brunswick, and with there now being a shortage of workers in the trades, there is a great opportunity for Indigenous people to succeed in this area.
With the province removing trades courses from schools, JEDI aims to bring back that education to the Indigenous communities across New Brunswick. Barnaby says the interactive stations, simulations, and games that are found inside the JEDI Trade Trailer are tailored for youth of all ages.
Over the course of the summer, the JEDI Trades Trailer will be traveling to many Indigenous communities and schools, and also plans to follow the Powwow trail throughout the season.
“We are hoping to be at all of the 15 Indigenous Powwows in the communities,” says Barnaby. “And we’re hoping to do at least 3-to-5, week-long camps as well in the communities.”
Barnaby says JEDI hopes to bring in local community members who are skilled trades professionals themselves. This will give Indigenous youth an opportunity to see professionals in skilled trades who live among their own communities and can therefore be seen as mentors.
“[They] can really see, you know, that real-life experience that someone from their community has taken,” says Barnaby.
With the launch of the JEDI Trades Trailer at Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nations) Powwow grounds launching their community engagement piece, they will be on the move through New Brunswick soon.
Ryley Roach is a Huddle student intern, based in Fredericton. Send her your feedback and story ideas: [email protected]