This article is a joint submission of the Metis Nation of Ontario (MNO) and Toronto Employment and Social Services (TESS) and the Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment Training

originally published in the 2013 Spring Issue

Three organizations are working together to support Aboriginal employment: the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), Toronto Employment & Social Services (TESS), and Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training.

If you’re an Aboriginal Canadian and are wondering where to find a job or how to upgrade your skills, the Government of Canada’s Aboriginal Skills & Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) may be your answer.

Using an integrated approach, ASETS will link your training needs to labour market demands, providing you with training or skill upgrading and with help finding a job.

Toronto Employment and Social Services and two Aboriginal Agreement Holders who deliver ASETS, the Métis Nation of Ontario and Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training have partnered in their efforts to provide employment services, support and resources for all Aboriginal peoples living in Toronto.

The Métis Nation of Ontario’s Education and Training (MNOET) Branch provides a range of programs and services that include training purchases, career counselling, employment readiness training, wage subsidies, apprenticeship support and mobility assistance. There are currently eleven (11) regional employment resource centres across Ontario.

MNOET’s mandate is to help all Métis acquire the skills they need to be successful in careers of their choice. Through our partnership with TESS and Miziwe Biik, the MNO strives to provide essential employment and training services to all clients who seek our assistance and support.

Training purchases are available to those who are unemployed, underemployed or at risk of job loss due to a diminishing job market or industry change. They enable Métis individuals to retrain by providing financial supports during the training period. Eligible programs include those that meet labour market demands, are one to two years in length and are taken at an accredited college.

Our wage subsidy, job-shadowing, and internship programs enable Métis people to receive on-the-job training by prospective employers.

The Mission of Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training is manifold: to counsel Toronto urban native people on career paths and opportunities, to work with employers to secure employment opportunities, to deliver federal and provincial training programs, working with both groups and individuals to achieve these endeavors.

All of our services are available to registered clients. We have four Employment Counselors on staff, a Job Development Officer and extensive onsite resources. To register, please phone (416) 591-2310 to book an appointment.

Among the services we provide for our clients:

• Employment Counseling
• Assistance with cover letter and resume writing
• Computer resource centre with Internet access for job search purposes
• Employment referrals and temporary placements
• Job advertisements
• Mail out, photo copy and fax service
• Referrals to employment supports network, health and other Aboriginal agencies
• Information about living in Toronto, such as referrals to social services, health and other Aboriginal agencies
• Information about Job creation, training, education and wage subsidies
• Community Project Training
• Skills Development Training
• Off site workshops for Aboriginal, Government and other agencies who may be interested in our services

If you are interested in receiving more information about any of the programs available through the MNO, please visit our website at http://www.metisnation.org/programs/education— training or contact Tamarra Shepherd, MNO Employment and Training Intake Officer, at tamarras@metisnation.org, toll free at 1-888-466-6684 x112 or within the Toronto area at 416-977-9881 x112. For more information about the programs and services provided by Toronto Employment and Social Services visit www.toronto.ca/socialservices For more information on the availability of these and other programs offered by Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training, please consult with your employment counselor. For a more in-depth look at what services we provide, please feel free to browse our website at www.miziwebiik.com. Our hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.