EDUCATION UPGRADE PROGRAM UNDERWAY IN MORICETOWN

Students of the Kyah Wiget Adult Education Centre are taking advantage of an innovative new program that prepares them for post-secondary education and beyond.

The University and College Education Program (UCEP) allows students to upgrade their high school courses and obtain prerequisites for post-secondary programs, all while being fully funded with a living allowance through the Kyah Wiget Education Society (KWES).

“The funding helps a lot because I’m a single mom with two kids,” says Joanne Mitchell, a student with her sights on a Bachelor of Social Work degree. Mitchell is upgrading her English and Math and says UCEP has given her the opportunity to go back to school. “I don’t have to work part-time jobs anymore,” she explains. “Now I can focus on my education and career goals while still supporting my kids.”

Meanwhile, Nathan Dennis is upgrading his sciences with a goal of entering a Nursing Program in the near future. Thanks to the UCEP funding, Dennis was able to quit a part-time job to return to school. “It’s great to be here in my home community,” he says. “The teachers make it a really nice environment.”

KWES Administrator Diane Mattson admits there have been bumps in the road with low attendance, but is happy to share the students have come around. “The resilience is there,” Mattson observes. “The students are genuinely happy with their progress and will be ready for college courses when they take them.”

Mattson and the staff of KWES are excited about the positive social change that UCEP can bring over time. “If young people go to post-secondary institutions and gain new skills, many of them may return home and use those skills to benefit the community.”

Work is underway to offer UCEP again in September 2015. Contact the Adult Education Centre at 250-847-1477 if you are interested in upgrading opportunities.

NewsletterIssue #3

February 12, 2015

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NEW SNOWBOARD RAIL PARK GETS GREAT USE IN MORICETOWN

There’s finally enough snow in the village to take a run at the new Moricetown Snowboard Park!

The 6-rail slope is set up behind Moricetown Elementary and is the latest recreation project undertaken by the iCount High School’s business branch, iCount Services.

“The park has been getting tons of use already,” says Lorna Butz, iCount Services Manager. “It’s great to see youth and community members out there almost every night, even from Smithers.”

Butz reminds Snowboard Park users to follow two simple rules: “If you’re the last boarder of the night, unplug the extension cord to turn off the lights. And remember – helmets must be worn at all times!”

Moricetown’s Snowboard Park was designed and constructed by Greg Stokes and is maintained by iCount staff and students.

The Snowboard Park is free of charge and open 24/7. Safe boarding!

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MORICETOWN ICE TOWER OPENS TO THE PUBLIC

The Moricetown Ice Tower is a huge success!

Students and staff of iCount High School worked hard for months to construct and prepare the tower for business, and nearly 300 community members gathered to celebrate the Grand Opening in December.

Now the 50-foot icy wall is open to climbers.

“There has been great enthusiasm and interest from many communities,” says Lorna Butz, Manager of iCount business branch, iCount Services. “People love it and we are in the process of building group packages for birthdays, staff parties, competitions and climbing clinics.”

Moricetown Ice Tower is one of only three in all of North America and is operated by certified climbers. All equipment is provided, snacks are available, and there is a warm Quonset Hut for changing.

Rates are as follows:

• Single Climb – $20.00• Day Pass – $40.00• 4-Day Punch Pass – $120.00• Season Pass – $250.00

For updates on times and conditions visit Mbed.ca or iCount High School on Facebook. You can also contact Lorna Butz at 250-847-6121 for school or group bookings. All participants must sign a waiver to use the Ice Tower, and youth under 17 must have a parent or guardian present to sign the waiver.

Spread the word that Moricetown and the iCount High School are on the rise!

LNG Energy Information SessionFind out more about British Columbia’s natural gas sector

For more information visit www.lnginbc.ca

February 11, 2015 MoricetownThe Moricetown Multiplex 205 Beaver Road

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm WorkBC’s Find Your Fit Career ExperienceAn interactive event where individuals of all ages can find out about careers in demand across the province, learn about online resources to help them find work and even try some of the skills they’ll need for different careers.

5:00 pm – 7:00pm Dinner and LNG Presentation with Gordon WilsonWhat exactly is liquefied natural gas (LNG) and how is it produced? How is British Columbia’s natural gas sector regulated? Find out what LNG is all about and the opportunities an LNG industry will bring to the Province.

7:00pm – 8:00pm WorkBC’s Find Your Fit Career Experience

AGREEMENTS OFFER JOBS AND BENEFITS FOR MORICETOWN

Moricetown Chief and Council voted to bring new jobs, skills training opportunities, and financial benefits to Moricetown community members through two new LNG agreements – the First Nations Limited Partnership (FNLP) with the Pacific Trail Pipeline (PTP) and the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Benefits Agreement with the Province of BC. “We negotiated hard for over a year before entering the agreements,” Moricetown Chief Barry Nikal said. “Our efforts secured valuable commitments for jobs and training, financial payments, and economic benefits for our people as well as critical environmental protections for our land and waterways.” Moricetown is now the 16th and final First Nation to enter the FNLP, a group of First Nations along the PTP route, and is now part of TransCanada’s Coastal GasLink project.

“While we are confident our community will be stronger as a result of these decisions, we acknowledge it has been a very painful process for our people,” Chief Nikal continued. “Now we need to focus on rebuilding relationships and finding healing and reconciliation.” By entering the FNLP, Moricetown Band Members will have priority access to jobs, skills training and contracting opportunities. Separate from the two agreements and in addition to the benefits available through the FNLP, Chief and Council negotiated with the provincial government for environmental and cultural commitments to support social programs, local economic development initiatives such as the Kyahwood Mill and language revitalization efforts. “We are standing strong with the other fifteen FNLP First Nations, including the four Wet’suwet’en bands who signed on earlier,” Chief Nikal said. “I believe through the unity of our bands and the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs who have supported our decision, we can work together towards a future of prosperity and wellbeing for our people.” In addition, Moricetown secured a “no oil” commitment from the provincial government and PTP. This ensures the pipeline cannot be converted to carry oil without the consent of all FNLP First Nations. Moricetown also negotiated to establish an environmental accord to closely monitor impacts on the territory. “Thank you to all the elders, Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and passionate community members who voiced their support for our decision,” Chief Nikal said. “Having your presence in the last crucial meetings gave Council the confidence to move forward with your support.”

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OLYMPIC MEDALIST COMING TO MORICETOWN FEBRUARY 10

On February 10, local Olympic Gold Medalist Carol Huynh is coming to Moricetown to endorse the iCount High School’s new recreation projects.

The Ice Climbing Tower, Snowboard Rail Park, and Skating Rink are big hits in the community, and Huynh, an Olympic Wrestler, is coming to endorse the use of the Outdoor Workout Equipment located by the baseball fields.

Huynh was born and raised in Hazleton where she began free-style wresting as a teenager. She won Canada’s first gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and returned in 2012 to win Bronze in London.

Save the date for the Carol Huynh endorsement ceremony!

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QUICK FACTSFNLP Benefits to Moricetown include:

• An immediate payment of $1.148 million to Moricetown Indian Band.

• Another $7 million in the near term, including $1.2 million when PTP is approved to proceed and an additional $5.22 million when the project begins operations.

• A total of $55.4 million in payments over the life of the project.

• Priority access to contracting opportunities estimated by Moricetown at $20 million, including logging and clearing, accessroad construction, upgrading and restoration, right-of-way and pipeline valve site restoration, preparation of work camps and stockpile sites, and security services for stockpile sites.

• Moricetown is currently a partner in Shas PTP Ltd., the company contracted to conduct clearing and construct access roads onthe eastern 380 km of the PTP.

• Moricetown becomes a joint venture partner with Somerville-Aecon through FNLP, who will be constructing a portion of PTP and distributing a portion of profits among FNLP member nations. Somerville-Aecon will also provide preferred access to jobs and subcontracting opportunities.

• To date, over $425 million in contracts have been awarded to FNLP member businesses or joint ventures.

• PTP will ensure all contractors and subcontractors adhere to the PTP Local and First Nations Content Plan, which provides first access to contracting and employment opportunities to FNLP members.

• Direct access to PTP training and employment opportunities through the PTP Aboriginal Skills to Employment Partnership (PTP ASEP – a not-for-profit organization devoted to training First Nations clients for work in industries in the province. To date, PTP ASEP has trained more than 1,600 First Nations people, and over 900 have been placed in well-paying jobs. (See www.ptpasep.ca.)

• PTP ASEP training programs include skills assessment and development, competency testing, training and accreditation in heavy equipment operating, welding, electrical, pipefitting, construction trades, truck driving, carpentry, cement finishing and masonry, millwrighting, environmental technician training and environmental monitoring, and camp operations management.

Additional Benefits to Moricetown include:

• The Province of B.C. will provide $1.8 million as part of a Reconciliation Agreement to help fund social programs and will initiate a government-to-government relationship with Moricetown. The Province will also provide an additional 37,000 cubic metres of forested land to support the success of local forest products company, Kyahwood, which is a key driver of the local economy, bring the total Moricetown timber supply to 100,000 cubic metres. As well, the Province will make payments to Moricetown of $150,000 and match funds for job training up to $100,000.

• The Province and the PTP will establish an Environmental and Cultural Accord to ensure the PTP meets all 43 Environmental Assessment Certificate conditions related to Wet’suwet’en territory. The accord will include funding for Moricetown Environmental Monitors during the construction and operations phases of the project, including on site monitoring of all stream crossings and wetlands activities. Monitors will be tasked with identifying environmental and cultural issues and upholding Wet’suwet’en environmental stewardship. As well, the Accord calls for Wet’suwet’en involvement in the preparation of an Environmental Stewardship Plan, a Restoration Plan, and an Access Management Plan, including an assessment of the protection and preservation of the Burnie Shea Protected Areas. A Carbon Management Plan and an Atmospheric Benefits Agreement will be implemented to manage the GHG impacts of the project.

• The Province and the PTP will provide capacity funding to help fund communications with community members, both onreserve and off.

Please send us your feedback at Feedback@mbed.ca