Check back to this section on a regular basis to see if there are job opportunities, scholarships or other opportunities.

Whenever there is an opening at UINR or if there is a new project that is looking for staff, we post it here!

Employment Opportunity: Unama’ki Guardian Program Coordinator

This year, scholarships were awarded to: (left to right) Teedaze Paul ($2000), Katherine Denny ($1000), Trudy Paul ($1000).

Missing from photo: Christina Fraser ($2000), Janice Basque (2000), Ellen Cabot ($2000).

From UINR Marten – Vol.4. Issue.3 – Autumn 2008

Along with our partners, NewPage and Georgia Pacific, UINR’s scholarships support Mi’kmaq students from the five Unama’ki communities.

The Georgia Pacific and UINR Scholarships award $1,000 to each of the five Unama’ki communities with the objective to promote and encourage education and careers in the field of Science and/or Technology.

Five NewPage and UINR Scholarships of $1,000 each will also be awarded to promote and encourage education and careers in the field of Science and/or Technology.

One scholarship of $5,000 will be awarded to a member of the Unama’ki community to promote and encourage education and careers in the forestry sector and related Science and/or Technology programs in the Unama’ki Mi’kmaq Communities.

This year, the deadline for applications is Friday 6 June. If you, or a student you know, are interested, you can download details from our website www.uinr.ca in the OPPORTUNITIES section. Good luck!

janice@uinr.ca

From UINR Marten – Vol.4. Issue.1 – Spring 2008

Brian Toney would know. He’s been an employee at Georgia Pacific for over eight years, and he has plenty of tips for First Nations people who are considering applying. “Enjoy your work, be responsible, get to work on time, and be here five days a week. There are not many jobs like this available in Cape Breton and this is closer to home than a job out west.”

With accolades like this, you’d imagine that there would be lineups of Mi’kmaq people for the available jobs. Georgia Pacific has, as its goal, a 25% First Nations workforce. However, in a crew of 130, there are just 11 Mi’kmaq workers. There seems to be a couple of stumbling blocks preventing more involvement. One of the chief reasons given is the expense of training as a heavy equipment operator. While courses are available at the Port Hawkesbury and Sydney Community Colleges, the cost is often not supported by the Bands. Kim Bolger, Georgia Pacific’s Human Resource Officer, explained that the main problem from the company’s perspective was actually getting applications in. She also felt that professional assistance with resumes would be a great help.

Among the union positions required at the mine are general labourers, heavy equipment operators, lab technicians, office staff, pumpmen, mechanics, shovel operators, and graders. Jobs are, of course, open to qualified men and women. Most positions require shift work as the mine runs 24 hours a day.

At the start of each shift, employees get training and upgrading on safety issues. This is one aspect of his employment that Brian Toney really appreciates. “Safety is a really big thing here. I practice safety every minute of the day. It’s something that I have taken home with me. Ask my family. I’m always double checking things around the house!”

If you are interested in working with Georgia Pacific, contact your band office for applications.

UINR Marten – Vol.3. Issue.2 – Summer 2007

Shelly Denny, Chapel Island

Jasine Dennis, Eskasoni

Stephanie Bernard, Waycobah

Lindsay Marshall, Membertou

From UINR Marten, Issue 1, Vol. 1, Fall 2005