Post Secondary & Labour Force Development

Day Star Administration Complex
Address: Box 219, 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
Email: touchwoodpostsec@sasktel.net
Phone: 1 (306) 835-7020
www.touchwoodpostsec.ca​

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

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

Program History

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

​This agreement takes place the former AHRDS program and is in effect from October 2010 to March 2016.
The Government of Canada has entered this agreement with FSIN where the ASETS 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

To promote and support career training and employment opportunities for Treaty Status Indians& Inuit people living in the Touchwood area including:

• 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 Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS).

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