When your mandate is to introduce people to the trades, it doesn’t hurt to hire a tradesman. Just ask NETP Special Projects coordinator Dave Watts Sr.
As coordinator, Watts is in charge of setting up training projects in Nuu-chah-nulth communities “from Kyuquot to Ditidaht.”
“Since I’ve been here, there have been 65 different projects. It’s been a lot of travelling,” Watts said.
Watts went into the construction trades after graduating from Alberni District Secondary School, earning the industry-recognized Red Seal Carpentry certification.
But while earning a living as a carpenter, he also became involved in politics as an elected councillor – later chief elected councillor, with Tseshaht First Nation.
“For a while, I also drove the school bus for Haahuupayak School,” he said.
Watts decided he wanted to pursue an administrative career. That meant heading back to school.
“I started off at North Island College, doing business courses that were transferable to the [Vancouver Island University] Business Administration program,” he said. “I did courses at both the Port Alberni and Courtenay-Comox campuses of NIC. I had to do a lot of driving to get my courses.”
Watts transferred over to VIU in Nanaimo (still commuting), where he completed his diploma in December 2010.
“From that point, I still had to earn money, so I was doing construction for Lake Cowichan First Nation. They had a housing renovation project going. At the same time, I was sending out applications, but I worked quite a while before I got back to Port Alberni.”
Watts was hired by NETP in October 2011.
“This is my first administrative job in Port Alberni,” he said.
While NETP does create and fund NTC-wide training programs out of its Port Alberni office, Nuu-chah-nulth Nations can apply to create their own local initiatives. As Special Projects Coordinator, Watts draws up the contracts between NETP and the various signing authorities.
Many of the projects involve trades training. Watts said many of those involve bringing in trainers from the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.
“We did a project with Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation. They (NVIT) set up at Tin Wis. They also accepted clients from Ahousaht and Ucluelet [First Nations]. They did electrical, welding and pipefitting under their Bridging To Trades program.”
Another ambitious program involved a partnership between Parks Canada and Huu-ay-aht First Nation to train Beachkeepers and trail managers in Pacific Rim National Park. Members from Ditidaht, Pacheedaht, Tla-o-qui-aht and Tseshaht also took part, learning a range of skills including Swiftwater Rescue, boat safety, cultural training, as well as learning how to clear brush and maintain trails.
“They brought in a whole range of people for training. They’ve done that two years in a row.”
Recently, Hesquiaht First Nation trained members on a new portable sawmill and some basic harvesting techniques in Hot Springs Cove.
But it isn’t always trades training, Watts said.
“Everybody has different goals. Some First Nations have had initiatives to develop administrative capacity.”
Watts said Toquaht First Nation recently completed a capacity-building project to help current staff make the transition to self-government under the Maa-nulth Treaty.
“They brought in a human resources specialist to look at the current administration and determine what they need to do in their transition, and to design an administration for their new role under the new rules.”
Watts’ duties include issuing callouts for applications. Last year, there was a maximum of $25,000 per project.
“I assist them and answer questions about the application and what is required,” he explained. “I also prepare a summary of the application for the Advisory Committee process.”
Unlike other NETP programs, Watts does not receive a lot of walk-in traffic. Mostly, he deals with administrators from the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations, but that picture is evolving, he said.
“We’re trying to expand our reach. Right now we’re working with Western Forest Products to develop special projects with them. That’s new.”
Watts said the forestry company is finding it difficult to replace skilled workers who are “aging out” of the workforce, because of the outflow of young workers to the oilsands projects in Northern Alberta.
“So we are working with them to develop ways to overcome that, through the Nuu-chah-nulth Employment and Training Program. We have a fair share of our people who are working in Northern Alberta, but if they could stay home, they would.”
Watts and his wife Annie (nee Ross), have been married for 36 years, and have three children, David Jr., Nathan, and Jennifer.
