Indigenous Skills teachings embraced by School District 72 community

May 1, 2023 (Campbell River, BC) – What started out as a traditional, one-off Indigenous Skills workshop in an elementary-grade classroom has now spread out to a multi-year relationship and a number of workshops with an entire school district. The Construction Foundation of BC’s (CFBC) Indigenous Skills initiative arrived in Campbell River School District for
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Brentwood Bay welcomes Indigenous Skills for Bentwood Box workshop

March 20, 2023 (Saanichton, BC) – The Construction Foundation of BC’s Indigenous Skills team travelled to Brentwood Bay Elementary this month for a bentwood box making workshop. Led by CFBC Artist in Residence, Dean Heron, the class of Grade 4 and 5 students each constructed their own bentwood boxes over the course of two workshops,
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BUILDING INSPIRATIONS FOR THE SKILLED TRADES WITH INDIGENOUS SKILLS’ BUILD UNITED PROJECT 

Dean Heron and our Indigenous Skills team have had a lot of fun introducing the Build United project to students of all levels and capabilities. Build United brings students of all cultural backgrounds and skill levels together to learn tool use and safety. Recently the team was in Semiahmoo Territory with two groups of grade
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EDUCATION, ELDERS’ GUIDANCE, AND A GO-GETTER ATTITUDE ARE THE FOUNDATIONS OF NEELAS’ SUCCESS

Neela is an Ulkatcho and Secwepemc woman, carving her own path to success with a go-getter attitude, and vision for her future and full intention to reconnect with her culture. During her school days, she dropped into youth centres to connect with mentors, gain access to several supports and help her keep focused to achieve
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Action planning the journey towards a secure future, Indigenous youth inspired by community.

Silas is a Tl’kemtsin man who is mapping out his pathway to securing a safe future for his community. Working with the All Roads team, Silas is developing an action plan to meet his goals and the next steps include obtaining his driver’s and security licences. Silas has experience volunteering with community events and has
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TRADES EXPLORATION AND SKILL-BUILDING AT CHALO SCHOOL IN FORT NELSON

From left to right: Cyndi Bonn, All Roads Community Catalyst; Randy Grey, Education Catalyst; Kathi Dickie, Catalyst, Indigenous Communities Fort Nelson First Nation and Chalo School invited CFBC team members into the community to host a month-long Trades Exploration workshop for FNFN members. The workshop, organized and managed by CFBC Community Catalysts, Kathi Dickie and
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KW’UMUT LELUM ADVISORY COUNCIL BUILDS NEW SKILLS AND LASTING MEMORIES AT THE LATEST INDIGENOUS SKILLS WORKSHOP

In late August, the Kw’umut Lelum Youth Advisory Council and the Construction Foundation of BC came together to present an Indigenous Skills workshop to a group of young adults on central Vancouver Island. The workshop, led by Haida artists, Kristy and James Crawford, saw the youth creating their own Wood Block Relief Prints. Wood Block Relief
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5 DAYS TO MAKE A CANOE PADDLE: INDIGENOUS SKILLS WORKSHOP IN CAMPBELL RIVER

Early in the summer, communities from several First Nations gathered for a Canoe Paddle Making workshop that took place at Thunderbird Hall in Campbell River.  Over two weeks participants from two groups were offered 5 days to create a canoe paddle of their own. Dean Heron and Elder George Hunt Jr. were innovative in their
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PADDLE PENDANT WORKSHOP AT ESQUIMALT: IN PERSON LEARNING WITH DEAN HERON

In-person Indigenous Skills workshops returned to Victoria for the first time in a long time, this past June, marking a welcome return to traditional instruction and an opportunity to introduce small groups of enthusiastic youth to contemporary trades and traditional knowledge. In consideration of the continued pandemic, both the Esquimalt First Nation and the Indigenous
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WITSET FIRST NATION WELCOMES CONSTRUCTION FOUNDATION INTO COMMUNITY FOR INDIGENOUS SKILLS WORKSHOP

The Construction Foundation of BC wrapped up a successful, four-day Indigenous Skills workshop in the community of Witset earlier this Spring. Participants in the community received virtual instruction from First Nations artist and Indigenous Catalyst Dean Heron once-per-week over the course of four weeks, en route to carving and completing their very own traditional Canoe
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CONSTRUCTION FOUNDATION OF BC: HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2020

Like many organizations, the Construction Foundation of BC team overcame unique barriers this past year as everyone adapted to a new way of socially distanced operations. The CFBC team continued to perform virtual workshops, produce content and collaborate with several organizations to continue educational opportunities. It’s a testament to our stakeholders and partners that there
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DREAM MACHINE SPOTLIGHT: ARTIST PETER WAYNE GONG

(Originally posted December 2, 2019) Artist Peter Wayne Gong is using art as a means of connecting with West Coast youth by providing an example of what can be done through hard work and perseverance. An accomplished Coast Salish artist from Squamish Nation, Peter finds inspiration in his art by drawing upon his life experiences
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