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The Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training Alliance (RoFATA) is pleased to announce that it is receiving over $5.9-million from the Government of Canada's Skills and Partnership Fund to provide training for employment in the mining sector for the people of Matawa First Nations.
Nine specialized training and six pre-trade courses are being made available to Matawa First Nations members, with many delivered in their First Nation communities and others locally in Thunder Bay.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Matawa First Nations, Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services (KKETS), Noront Resources Ltd. and Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology, creating The Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training Alliance (RoFATA) partnership. RoFATA's key objective is to provide training-to-employment opportunities to support the Matawa First Nations people.

KKETS will be registering the students for the training programs. Some of the programs start as early as mid-October and will be delivered at various locations.

Confederation College will be organizing and delivering the training programs. The assessment of applicants' interests and qualifications will be done in conjunction with KKETS. Participants will have the opportunity to make choices in determining their appropriate career path in the mineral and mining sector.

Noront Resources Ltd. is the industry partner committed to creating opportunities to enable the Matawa First Nations people to participate in all aspects of its mining operation on the Eagle's Nest nickel, copper, platinum and palladium deposit.

The partners will be travelling to Matawa First Nations' nine communities this fall to promote and discuss the training programs, which include: Mining Essentials, Pre-Trades Carpentry, Environmental Monitoring Pre-Trades Electrical, Basic Line Cutting, Pre-Trades Plumber, Security Guard, Pre-Trades Welder, Remote Camp Cook, Pre-Trades Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic, Remote Camp Support Pre-Trades Construction Craft Worker, Underground Common Core, Underground Diamond Driller Helper, and Heavy Equipment Operator.

Approximately 260 trainees will be trained and 196 trainees will enter into employment through RoFATA. The length of training varies from 5 to 20 weeks.

QUOTES
"Our Government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity, across the country and right here in northern Ontario," says the Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of State and Minister Responsible for the Ring of Fire. "It's important that all Canadians have the necessary skills and training they need to succeed. By working with organizations such as Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services, we are ensuring that the members of our local Aboriginal communities can take full advantage of the opportunities being generated by the rapidly growing mining industry the Ring of Fire has to offer."

"We are working hard to ensure that Canada stays on the right track for creating jobs," says the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development). "Partnerships like this one are helping Aboriginal people take advantage of economic opportunities and build better futures for themselves, their families and their communities."

"Training in our own communities is something we have needed for many years. It is difficult for people to leave their homes and families to get training, especially when you come from a remote community. This community-based approach to preparing for the future will turn out to be one of the most successful training initiatives. I am happy we are going to be doing this," says Chief Celia Echum, Ginoogaming First Nation.

"It is important to have training right in our community. Our community members want to participate in the employment and business opportunities that will emerge because of development in the Ring of Fire. This partnership that KKETS has developed will ensure we can maximize training because it can happen right in our communities," says Chief Corneilius Wabasse Webequie First Nation.

"KKETS has been moving forward to ensure Matawa First Nation members are trained for any employment opportunities that may result from any resource development in their area and to meet current and forecasted labour market demands in mining and trades occupations. The RoFATA funding opens doors for Matawa First Nation members to participate in the labour force, and be prepared and ready for when those jobs are available," says Elsie MacDonald, President, KKETS Board of Directors.

"Our peoples of the land will benefit from this approach to training and skills development and will be better prepared for the new economy coming to their communities and territories. The more we build these important partnerships, the more success we will have. Congratulations to KKETS for establishing yet another partnership to help our people," says David Paul Achneepineskum, CEO Matawa First Nations Management.

"The training we will be delivering to Matawa First Nations' people will support the development of specific skills to increase employment and entrepreneurism prospects on a sustainable, long term basis throughout the communities," says Jim Madder, Confederation College President. "We look forward to building on this partnership to support learning and employment and entrepreneurism across the northwest associated with the Ring of Fire."

"It is important to Noront that we have access to a local workforce that is trained for the employment opportunities that we will require as we develop and operate our Eagle's Nest Project in the Ring of Fire. This program is a step to achieve this very important goal," states Paul Parisotto, Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, Noront Resources Ltd.

About RoFATA and the Partners
On October 3, 2012, Matawa First Nations, Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services (KKETS) - a Division of Matawa First Nations, Noront Resources Limited and Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology signed a Memorandum of Understanding acknowledging the willingness to work cooperatively to plan, promote, secure funding, deliver and expand opportunities for the development of a highly skilled workforce for activity associated with the Ring of Fire. This entity is now known as the Ring of Fire Aboriginal Training Alliance (RoFATA). On June 10th, 2013, KKETS' RoFATA proposal under the Skills and Partnership Fund was approved. The term of the RoFATA project runs from June 10, 2013 to March 31, 2015.

The partners acknowledge and understand that the overall development within the Ring of Fire is a multi-year initiative that will apply learner-centred innovative delivery approaches to foundation training, semi-skilled training, and skilled and professional career pathways.

RoFATA is an exciting initiative assisting and supporting members of nine (9) Matawa First Nation communities in pursuit of specialized training, and making informed career decisions in their transition from training to employment. The objectives are to: (1) provide skills development and training to aboriginal participants for long-term meaningful employment, and (2) promote skills development, labour market participation, and inclusiveness through the effective and efficient development of training initiatives and supports that are aligned to identified labour market needs for the Ring of Fire.

RoFATA trainees will be guided to long-term, sustainable career pathways in the mineral and mining sectors or other resource related areas associated with the Ring of Fire.

Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services
Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services (KKETS) is an Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETA) Agreement Holder with Human Resource Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). KKETS is a Matawa employment and training non-profit corporation, supported by our Chiefs, that offers our First Nation members opportunities to advance their skills and employability to get meaningful jobs in all industries, but particularly in the growing resources sector. KKETS will positively change lives and communities through individual skills development and training.

Matawa First Nation Management
Matawa First Nation Management is a non-profit corporation and Tribal Council that provides advisory services to its nine member First Nations.

The Nine Member First Nations of MFNM:
Remote (accessible by air or winter ice road) - Eabametoong First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, Marten Falls First Nation, Nibinamik First Nation, Webequie First Nations.
Road Access (accessible by provincial highways and roads) -Constance Lake First Nation, Aroland First Nation, Long Lake # 58 First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation.

Confederation College of Applied Arts and Technology
Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has eight regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Geraldton, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Wawa.

Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 8,800 combined full and part-time students per year and currently has a total of 805 full and part-time employees.

Noront Resources Ltd.
Noront Resources Ltd. is focused on development of the high-grade Eagle's Nest nickel, copper, platinum and palladium deposit and the high-grade Blackbird chromite deposit, both of which are located in the James Bay Lowlands of Ontario in an emerging metals camp known as the Ring of Fire.