The first graduation from the new meat cutting program in Sandy Bay First Nation commenced last month, with all 14 women students completing the program. Sandy Bay Chief Lance Roulette says the program was concieved three years ago, after talks with the previous Minister of Employment, Workforce and Labour MaryAnn Mihychuk about Hy Life Meat Processing Plant in Neepawa not reaching their aboriginal staffing component. The aim of promoting women in trades was born from those discussions.

Roulette says it was great to see some students gain more confidence.

"It began to motivate the self-awareness of some individuals who were very, very quiet. Seeing how they changed throughout the programming, it gave a sense of ownership to the individual because not only have they complete the courses and the program, but they began to see some of the fruitful benefits that motivates them intrinsically," Roulette says.

The new facility is a 3.3 million dollar facility, says Roulette, and benefits the community.

"The meat processed out of the plant is given to lower income families on reserve, with about 60-80 packages a day...the overall plan to was also designed to provide processed meat to our upcoming store which is going to be built within the next year or so," says Roulette.

He says they're planning for a 14,000 square foot community grocery store with fresh produce and meat, with a coffee shop and laundromat as well.

Roulette notes currently the plant is focusing on processing pork, but they would like to expand to more traditional meats like buffalo, moose and elk.

Of the 14 graduates, Roulette says most have found employment off reserve, while two are on maternity leave, and another two are continuing their post-secondary studies. The next two groups of students are both male and female, with 15 students in each cohort.

The plant and program costs $650,000 to $700,000 in funding, which Roulette says comes from the band and the federal Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy program. Roulette hopes the program will find funding for them to be sustainable forever on the reserve.

The ASETS program also provides childcare for students in the meat cutting program, which helps in the students' success.

"Sandy Bay ASETS has a childcare program that assists the students who're enrolled in the program with childcare and also gives advice to barriers they may encounter. We're very positive that we will see a 100 per cent success rate out of the second and third cohorts," Roulette says.

The program is approximately 2 months long to complete. Assiniboine Community College was also part of the program's success, providing a registered facilitator to teach students.

Roulette adds for those who live off reserve and wish to take part in the program, you are welcome to do so, as long as you can offset the cost of the tuition.

The plant and program is the only one of its kind on a First Nations reserve within all of Canada.