2. Our challenge
• The Aboriginal
population is:
– the fastest growing
population in Canada;
– largely encompassing
youth with an average
age of 31;
– experiencing higher
unemployment relative
to other groups.

3. Identifying barriers
• Limited economic
opportunities on
reserves.
• Limited employment
opportunities in rural
New Brunswick.
• Mobility and
transportation issues.
• Overall, lower
educational attainment
rates.

4. Addressing barriers
• In economic
development, JEDI
supports:
– entrepreneurship;
– community economic
development;
– business development.

5. Addressing barriers
• In workforce
development, JEDI
supports:
– literacy enhancement;
– training-for-
employment;
– recruitment, retention
and career
advancement.

6. Addressing barriers
• Working closely with
partners, JEDI supports:
– increasing accessibility
to adult learning
programs;
– customizing training to
meet the needs of the
learners and potential
employers;
– addressing labour
market needs.

7. JEDI Economic Development
• Community economic
development:
– JEDI Aboriginal
Development Fund (JADF);
– Economic Development
Officers (EDOs) support.
• Entrepreneurship and
business support:
– JADF;
– Business
Basics/Procurement;
Workshops.

8. JEDI Economic Development
• New Brunswick
Community Energy
Initiative:
– Indian Island Energy.
• Aboriginal Workforce
Participation Initiative:
– Business distribution;
– Survey;
– Workshops;
– Potential NB Aboriginal
Business Association.

9. Aboriginal Workforce Development Initiative
(AWDI) - training-to-employment opportunities
• Completed a successful
Aboriginal Skills and
Employment Partnership
(ASEP).
• The New Brunswick Aboriginal
Information and
Communications Technology
(NBAICT) Project.
• Potential New Brunswick
Aboriginal Mining, Energy and
Trades (NBAMET) Project.
• Potential Aboriginal Labour
Market Information Centre.

10. Aboriginal Workforce Development Initiative
(AWDI) - recruitment, retention and career
advancement
• Work placements through
ASEP, SPF and other
programs for Aboriginal
clients.
• Provincial Aboriginal
Employment Coordinator
links job-ready clients
with employers.
• Professional development
and/or other capacity-
building opportunities.

11. Economic Development Results
• During the past year, JEDI
has:
– provided key support for the
$13 million Grey Rock Power
Centre at Madawaska
Maliseet First Nation;
– invested $37,500 in
Aboriginal businesses;
– assisted 40 Aboriginal
entrepreneurs;
– constructed a database of
Aboriginal businesses;
– held workshops in 6
communities on a variety of
entrepreneurship issues.

12. Workforce Development Results
• During the past year, JEDI has:
– helped 421 new Aboriginal learners
access Community Adult Learning
Services programs in New
Brunswick ;
– launched Canada’s first Aboriginal
Mobile Application Development
training course through AWDI;
– welcomed 50 Aboriginal learners
into specialized ICT training;
– trained 100 Aboriginal learners for
careers in ICT;
– found internships for 21 ICT
program students;
– communicated more than 200
employment opportunities to
Aboriginal communities and
people looking for employment.

13. Quotes
• “This course has really changed my life. It’s a dream come true,”
Katie Lunney, Fredericton New Brunswick Aboriginal Information
and Communications Technology (NBAICT) student from Elsipogtog
First Nation.
• “Taking the class was a great experience. I learned a lot and
gained valuable skills and experience,” Annie Simoneau, Miramichi
NBAICT Student from Eel Ground First Nation.
• “JEDI has helped me alot. They helped me find funding and with
networking,” Chief Joanna Bernard, Madawaska Maliseet First
Nation.
• “Without them, none of this would be possible,” Brad
MacMillan, JEDI Aboriginal Development Fund recipient from Eel
Ground First Nation.

14. Woliwon!
Wela'lin!
Thank you!
Merci!