Post Secondary & Labour Force Development

Four Winds Learning Centre - Side Door 
Address: 406 Main Street, Punnichy, SK.  S0A 3C0
Phone: 1 (306) 835-2972
Fax: 1 (306) 835-2198

Touchwood Post Secondary Website

Touchwood Post-Secondary Program Manager
Loretta Buffalo - LFD Office Located in Daystar First Nation 
Email: touchwoodpostsec@sasktel.net
Phone: 1 (306) 835-2196
www.touchwoodpostsec.ca​

LFD Case Worker 
​D’nita Kahnapace-Bird
Email: d_kbird@yahoo.ca
Phone: 1 (306) 835-7125

    LFD Admin. Assistant
     Serina Worm
     Email: sittingeaglewoman@hotmail.com
     Phone: 1 (306) 530-4021

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PES Program Manager

Harvey Bitternose
Email: hbitternose@tatc.sk.ca
​Phone: 1(306)835-2971

PES Administration Assistant  

Dorian McNab
Email: dorian.mcnab@tatc.sk.ca
Phone: 1(306)835-2970

Program History

The Touchwood Agency - Labour Force Development Program is an employment and training initiative administered under the Touchwood Post- Secondary Program. It is funded by the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ISETS); which is a federal funded program. It’s a funding agreement between the federal government and the Indigenous  people of Canada. The LFD Program supports the development of training and employment initiatives to help Indigenous people get into the workforce.

​This agreement takes in place of the former AHRDS program. The Government of Canada has entered this agreement with FSIN where the ISETS funding flows through SITAG who administers it for various contribution areas in Saskatchewan to provide labour market activities to the First Nations & Inuit people of Saskatchewan.

Mission

As a Tribal Council, we will work for the advancement and to improve the employment opportunities of Indigenous people within the Touchwood area, and to enable them to fully participate in the Canadian economy.
To promote and support career training and employment opportunities for Treaty Status Indians
& Inuit people living in the Touchwood area, are as follows:

• Day Star First Nation
• George Gordon First Nation
• Kawacatoose First Nation
• Muskowekwan First Nation
• Surrounding Towns & Villages

Program Objectives

The LFD Program helps clients explore their career options and assists them in developing action plans to reach their career goals.  The program also promotes and supports the development of clients’ knowledge, skills, and abilities needed in their chosen career destination.  The ultimate objective is help our clients enter the workforce and find meaningful employment.

To support these objectives LFD offers a variety of non-funded and funded services ranging from helping with job searches to specific career training (through individual purchase of training or project based training programs).
The Government of Canada is contributing to this initiative through its Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ISETS).

The Labour Force Development Program receives direction from a Board/Committee and is comprised of four community Leaders. One representing each of the Surrounding First Nations: Day Star, Muskowekwan, George Gordon, & Kawacatoose.

Services

LFD offers a number of non-funded and funded services to help you reach your employment goals. 
Available services include:

• Client Needs Assessment:
  • Initial meeting with the client to determine their training/employment needs
• Employment Services:
  • Assists clients to attain employment and acquire start up essentials.
• Preparation Programs:
  • Increases clients’ basic education levels, skills, and abilities.
• Career Training:
  • To assist clients to obtain their credentials for their chosen career goal.

To Access Funding Services

• Make an appointment.
• Develop an action plan to work toward your career goal.
• Complete application & the requirements.
• The LFD Board will review your request for your career plan and sponsorship.
• Get trained or educated.
• Resume preparation & Job Search.
• Enter the workforce.

To Be Eligible for Funding:

Client must:

• Reside in the Touchwood area
• Be 18 years or older
• Be a Registered Status Indian
• Have a Social Insurance Number
• Be Unemployed or under-employed
• Provide a letter from an employer stating your new job title and start date, etc.  (for some funding requests)
• Not be currently enrolled in a training or educational program
• Go through the LFD Client Case Management Process