NWAC is currently finalizing a project to help Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) develop its IT Apprenticeships Program for Indigenous Peoples.

Through four webinar sessions and an online survey conducted in November 2021, we learned about the passion and interest that Indigenous women and gender-diverse people have for careers in IT. We also heard a variety of suggestions on how the program can be most effective for Indigenous women. These include a simple and accessible application process, stringent Indigenous identity requirements, micro-credentials, and valuing diverse experience.

ESDC is finalizing the design and content of the program based on feedback from NWAC and other Indigenous groups across Canada. ESDC expects to announce a launch date for the program in the coming weeks, with the first cohort of apprentices entering the program in the second half of 2022.