Indigenous Youth Empowered Through Hands-On Carpentry Workshop

📅 4 days ago

A hands-on woodworking workshop for Indigenous youth in Ohsweken, Ontario, provided participants with essential carpentry skills and tools, promoting careers in the skilled trades.

In Ohsweken, Ontario, a recent two-day woodworking workshop aimed at Indigenous youth has proven to be a fruitful endeavor in fostering life skills and teamwork while also providing exposure to potential careers in the skilled trades. The workshop, which took place last week, was organized by MicroPro Sienna Plus in collaboration with Skills Ontario First Nations, Métis and Inuit Initiatives, Grand River Employment and Training, and the Six Nations community.
Led by Deneika Coakley, a Mi’kmaq carpenter and content creator, the workshop allowed 12 participants to delve into the basics of woodworking and carpentry. Throughout the event, students were guided by industry professionals and had the chance to learn how to effectively use a range of carpentry tools. Together, they worked on constructing and painting picnic tables, which will later be donated to the Six Nations community, including the Kayanase greenhouse—a business focused on ecological restoration and native plants—and Grand River Employment and Training, an Indigenous non-profit organization dedicated to employment and training for Six Nations band members.
Each participant also received a STANLEY tool set as a complimentary gift, enabling them to continue their learning journey in carpentry. Jana Proctor, the senior marketing manager for North America at Timber Specialties, expressed the significance of providing young adults with hands-on experience in woodworking, emphasizing how community builds contribute to the development of valuable life skills. “Representation in the trades is so important, especially among Indigenous and Black communities,” Proctor stated.
Coakley echoed this sentiment, stating, “If you can see it, you can be it.” She expressed enthusiasm about witnessing the participants’ growth in both competence and confidence during the two-day workshop, highlighting her eagerness to engage with the students again in the future.
This initiative not only aims to equip Indigenous youth with practical skills but also to inspire them to consider careers in the skilled trades, an area where representation is crucial. The collaboration among various organizations illustrates a strong commitment to supporting Indigenous communities and fostering opportunities for their youth.

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