"The emphasis is to help people to get back to work as soon as possible," explains Roger Anderson, Manager of Program and Services.GREAT can assist the laid off worker, who has had to apply for Employment Insurance benefits, with getting another job or taking training if necessary.

How does GREAT help with getting a job? Jobs that are available locally and outside the community area are posted daily at GREAT. Labour Market information that may provide job leads for the job seeker is available in the Career Information Centre. GREAT's staff are available to provide assistance in writing resume and covering letters for the job hunter.Another option that may be available is Skills Training.The Skills Training opportunity enables Six Nations members to take a wide variety of training courses such as welding or personal support worker where certification is required by employers to work in these occupations.

GREAT sponsors trainees to attend both public and private training institutes. As training can be a costly venture, GREAT may be able to assist with such costs as tuition, books, child or dependant care and other related approved course training costs

GREAT can approve for a person to either continue receiving E.I. benefits while taking a training course or to receive a living allowance. Individuals interested in training are required to make an appointment with a Programs and Services Officer (PSO) at GREAT to develop their action plan that will lead to training and eventually getting the right job. An action plan normally means that a decision to take training is well though out i.e. research has been done regarding the suitability and the availability of training which usually takes at least two interviews with a PSO. Therefore, potential trainees must see a PSO well in advance of any training or course start date.

Anyone interested in taking training can call the GREAT office at (519) 445-2222. For people out of town, Programs and Services Officers are available in Fort Erie, Brantford and Hamilton at the Friendship Centres.

Ogwehoweh Skills and Trades Training Centre (OSTTC) attended the Brantford Chamber of Commerce’s Youth Career Fair on November 24 and the Canadian Aboriginal Festival in Toronto from November 27 to 28.

OSTTC is hitting the trade show circuit and implementing a new marketing approach that hopes to solicit employers and students alike. Travel plans are underway to recruit employers to hire Six Nations and OSTTC graduates and to recruit students from surrounding communities. If you know of an employer or individual in the Brantford, London, Hamilton, Toronto, Kitchener, or Simcoe area that may be interested in attending an information session, please let us know!

OSTTC primarily offers training in skilled trades and business. We are an 'open' facility and do not restrict classes to Aboriginals. Courses in welding, automotive service, gas technician, computers, accounting and general interest courses are well under way at the GREAT Opportunity Centre. For more information or schedules,
please visit www.osttc.com or call 519-445-1515.

"Low income families in need of childcare do not have access to it," says Garlow. While Six Nations is equipped with two childcare facilities there are still approximately 300 children on a waiting list. "I think that if we had more childcare spaces we probably would have more people working, going to post secondary, taking training courses or getting their Grade 12," she explains.

The board has recognized that a lack of childcare has been a barrier to training for quite some time now. It would now like to call upon the community to provide their feedback on how we as a community need to address this issue.

"We need input from the community, this is how the board expects to link with the people they represent," says Garlow.

According to Glenda Porter, chairperson for GREAT's Board, a survey will be conducted at Bread and Cheese Day. "We need to get feedback from the community," says Porter, adding, "We don't want to get started if the community isn't on board with us." Focus group meetings will continue throughout the summer in order to develop a strategy to address the issue. The board also intends to meet with other community boards and various organizations for further input. "The whole idea is for the community to work on this problem," states Garlow.

Recently the Government of Canada announced that $5 billion, allotted to childcare, will be offered to the provinces over five years. The Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine met with Social Development Minister Ken Dryden to discuss how First Nations can obtain a part of those funds.

Focus group meetings will be advertised in the local newspapers. Community members are encouraged to attend and provide their ideas on how Six Nations can resolve the childcare issue.

Youth Intake