Building Skilled Futures Through Indigenous-Led Training Partnerships

United Cree and the Indigenous Skilled Trades Alliance (ISTA) deliver practical, industry-aligned skills training that prepares Indigenous people for long-term careers in the skilled trades.

United Cree is proud to partner with the Indigenous Skilled Trades Alliance (ISTA) to deliver high-quality, Indigenous-led professional skills training that directly supports workforce development, community capacity building, and economic self-determination.

Through the United Cree–ISTA partnership, Indigenous participants gain access to industry-recognized skills training, pre-apprenticeship preparation, and job-ready certification pathways aligned with real labour market demand. Programs are designed to bridge the gap between community talent and the skilled trades sectors that are actively seeking qualified workers, including construction, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and environmental services.

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ISTA InDigital Professional Skills Training

Cultural Identity & Responsibility

Training that strengthens cultural identity, professional responsibility, and community accountability. Programs support Indigenous participants in understanding their roles within projects while honouring cultural values, community relationships, and long-term stewardship.

Industrial Cultural Awareness

Practical cultural awareness training designed for industrial, construction, and project environments. Supports respectful collaboration between Indigenous and non-Indigenous workforces while aligning cultural understanding with operational realities.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Applications

This training introduces practical, real-world applications of artificial intelligence, including automation, data organization, and digital tools that improve productivity across trades, administration, and community projects.

Digital & IT Skills Training

Participants learn foundational computer repair, troubleshooting, and IT support skills—preparing them to maintain systems, support users, and pursue roles in technology-enabled environments.

Drone Pilot & Land Mapping

Participants gain exposure to drone operation and land-mapping technologies used in environmental monitoring, construction planning, and resource management—supporting safer, more efficient project development.

Heavy Equipment & Operator Training

Heavy equipment capability is critical to productive project delivery. ISTA’s training delivers hands-on operator experience across key machinery

Construction Trades & Modular Building Pathways

Explore new and non-traditional energy sources in preparation for a career in the growing alternative energies sector.

Alternative Energy Technology

Explore new and non-traditional energy sources in preparation for a career in the growing alternative energies sector.

Environmental Training & Monitoring

Training in environmental stewardship, monitoring, and assessment aligned with regulatory requirements and project needs. Supports roles in environmental data collection, compliance, impact monitoring, and sustainability reporting.

Blueprint Reading

Blueprint reading and technical drawing interpretation training designed for construction and industrial environments. Builds the skills required to understand plans, specifications, and layouts critical to safe and accurate execution.

GIS Data Processing

Training in geographic information systems (GIS) data processing and analysis. Supports mapping, spatial analysis, environmental monitoring, and project planning across industrial, resource, and infrastructure applications.

Surveying

Foundational and applied surveying training supporting construction, infrastructure, and land-based projects. Focused on field techniques, measurement accuracy, and alignment with project specifications and site conditions.

Safety Training

Industry-aligned safety training focused on hazard awareness, regulatory compliance, and safe work practices across construction, industrial, and infrastructure environments. Designed to support site readiness and reduce operational risk.

Workplace Security Training

Training focused on workplace security, access control, incident prevention, and situational awareness. Supports secure project environments across industrial sites, camps, facilities, and community-based operations.

Leadership, Office & Site Operations Training

ISTA’s programs equip participants for leadership, administrative support, and site management roles essential to project success.

Human Resources & Workforce Administration

This pathway focuses on practical workforce coordination, administrative support, and compliance functions required in construction, industrial, and project-based environments.

Accounting, Finance & Financial Literacy

This training covers budgeting, basic accounting, and financial literacy, with applied focus on construction and trades environments—including project bidding, cost estimation, pricing, invoicing, and financial planning—supporting stronger project management and long-term economic sustainability.

ISTA brings nationally respected expertise in skills development, safety training, employability readiness, and trades-focused education, while United Cree provides trusted leadership, community engagement, and culturally grounded program delivery. Together, this partnership ensures training is not only technically rigorous, but also accessible, supportive, and responsive to Indigenous learners’ needs.

This collaborative model prioritizes hands-on learning, safety certification, and workforce readiness, equipping participants with practical skills that translate directly into employment opportunities. By aligning training with employer expectations and regional economic priorities, United Cree and ISTA help create sustainable career pathways rather than short-term placements.

At its core, the United Cree–ISTA partnership is about more than training—it is about building skilled Indigenous workforces, strengthening communities, and supporting long-term economic participation through education that leads to meaningful, well-paying careers in the trades.