Aboriginal Communities

Updated: January 2008

The following are skills and occupations required particularly in Aboriginal communities on and off reserve:

Business Management Skills

• Accountant/Accounting Skills
• Band Management/Administrator (with negotiation and conflict resolution skills)
• Community and Economic Development Skills (including a cultural awareness component)
• Forestry Consultant
• Entrepreneurship Skills
• Housing Property Management
• Information, Communication Technology (ICT) skills
• Infrastructure Maintenance
• Lawyer (will and estate)
• Project Management
• Real Estate Agent
• Retail Management (Small Business)
• Retail Salesperson
• Surveyor (land claims and development)

Health, Medical and Education Skills

• Adult Education Instructor
• Alcohol, Substance Abuse and Gambling Addictions Counsellor
• Clinical Support Staff for Doctors and Nurses
• Early Childhood Educator/Daycare Manager
• Elder Advisor
• Emergency Medical Responder
• General Practitioner and Traditional Healer (holding a medical degree, and apprenticing with an Elder or a practicing traditional healer)
• Health Care Manager
• Human Resource Officer
• Public Health Educator (especially with knowledge of Diabetes)
• Public Health Nurse
• Health Care Aide
• Social Worker (Family Violence Counsellor, Child Welfare Worker)
• Specialist Physician, Optometrist and Chiropractor
• Teacher (especially high school math and science, Aboriginal languages and reading clinicians)
• Teacher’s Aide
• Trainer (forestry, accounting, technology, health and safety, housing, fire prevention, will/estate planning, childcare, health and welfare)

Experienced/Certified Tradespersons

• Aircraft Mechanic
• Carpenter (Journeyperson)
• Civil Engineer
• Construction Labourer
• Cook
• Electrician
• Forestry Field Data Collector
• Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanic
• Heavy-Equipment Operator
• Miner
• Motor Vehicle Mechanic
• Mould Remediation skills
• Plumber
• Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Practitioner
• Sheet-Metal Worker
• Small Engine Repair (outboard motors, chain saws, snowmobiles)
• Truck Driver

Self-Government

As First Nations communities move towards self-governance, the demand for knowledge and skills in this area will continue to grow. The following are skills and occupations that are either currently required or will be in the near future:

• Education Administrator/Director
• Firefighter (may be a volunteer position)
• Justice Worker (B.A. in Law, specialized)
• Lawyer
• Political Science and Leadership skills (B.A., certificates)
• Project Manager and Proposal Writer (accessing and managing funding dollars)
• Treaty/Land Claim Settlement Specialist