Upon completion of our programs clients will have increased knowledge, self-confidence, essential skills, and occupational skills necessary to fully realize a bright and employable future.

NPAAMB Indigenous Youth Employment & Training hosts skills development programs to support essential and professional work ethic and skills. The Oya:na program serves as the primary program NPAAMB offers throughout the year.

  • Skills development training
  • Purchased training
  • On-the-job training placement with employers (job work experience)
  • Internships
  • Summer student work experience program
  • Driver’s License & Drivers Education

Oya:na Program

Upcoming course offerings:

Building Our Bundles

Pre-Career Development Course

During the Building our Bundles program youth will participate in opportunities that assist with developing a meaningful career action plan by identifying your personal strengths, opportunities for growth, and strategies that promote overall employment success.

Exploring our Bundles

Pre-Employment / Pre-Training Course

The Exploring our Bundles Program is designed for youth that are interested in developing their interpersonal skills, self identity, employability and life skills through culture-based programming.

Implementing our Bundles

Employment Ready / Training Ready Course

The Implementing our Bundles program is for youth that are employment ready and interested in applying the elements of the bundle into experiential activities. This culture-based program will prepare youth to enter apprenticeship programs, skilled trade programs, and/or post-secondary programs.

Understanding our Bundles

Advancing Careers Course

The understanding our Bundles program is for youth that are employed in their career of choice or under-employed, and interested in enhancing their professional development. Applying the elements of the bundle, youth will work toward progressing their chosen professional journey.

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To meet the minimum NPAAMB eligibility requirements you must:

  1. Be a registered NPAAMB client (if you are not, contact your local YSO to schedule an intake appointment).
  2. Reside within one of the following catchment areas: Kitchener- Waterloo, Brantford, Hamilton, St. Catharines, or Fort Erie and Niagara Falls (proof of residency may be required).
  3. Self-identify as an Indigenous Aboriginal person (status/non-status First Nation, Inuit, or Metis).
  4. Be 15 to 30 years of age at the time of intake/selection.
  5. Be out of school, unemployed, or underemployed.

Each program may have other requirements – please see program details for more information.

Are you…

Between 15 and 30 years old?

First Nations, Metis, Inuit or self-identifying?

Finding it difficult to navigate or access services in your community?

Out of school, unemployed or under employed?

Ready to gain confidence and skills?

Interested in cultural opportunities and experiences?

Ready to take the next step?

To meet the minimum NPAAMB eligibility requirements you must:

Be a registered NPAAMB client (if you are not, contact your local YSO to schedule an intake appointment).

Reside within one of the following catchment areas: Kitchener- Waterloo, Brantford, Hamilton, St. Catharines, or Fort Erie and Niagara Falls (proof of residency may be required).

Self-identify as an Indigenous Aboriginal person (status/non-status First Nation, Inuit, or Metis).

Be 15 to 30 years of age at the time of intake/selection.

Be out of school, unemployed, or underemployed.

Each program may have other requirements – please see program details for more information.

For Employers

NPAAMB partners with a wide variety of local employers to provide opportunities for training and jobs for youth. NPAAMB also provides employer supports that increase employee retention, lower recruitment costs and reduce training costs by:

  • Pre-screening of candidates to meet staffing requirements
  • Free job postings across NPAAMB’s online networks
  • Paid on-the-job Training and employment wage subsidy
  • Pre-employment skills and essential skills training
  • NPAAMB Youth Service Officer support of the new employee and employer throughout the process

Nia:wen!
A message of thanks:

NPAAMB would like to acknowledge all of the students, clinicians, professionals, community members, employer and industry partners, educational institutions, consultants and staff who brought this project to fruition.

They are both the inspiration for, and the creators of this series and we are deeply grateful for their generosity and wisdom. Thanks is also extended to the Government of Ontario for their financial support of this project.

Funding Provided by

This project is funded by the Government of Ontario. NPAAMB gratefully acknowledges the financial support and the guidance provided by our partners in government.

Our partners

NPAAMB expresses its profound gratitude to our healthcare industry partners who generously contributed their knowledge, experience, and resources to this project. Their leadership has been exemplary and we applaud their efforts to build a strong, inclusive, and future-ready healthcare workforce.