In 2019 British Columbia’s provincial government legislated the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), an international set of standards to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples. It outlines rights in all areas of life – like human rights, education, and health – and will help Indigenous peoples, industry, communities and government work together.
On January 14th, 2020, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers along with 600 other leaders in the Indigenous, Business, Government, Labour and Civil groups, shared stories about a pathway to finding a shared prosperity at a conference called UNDRIP 2020.
The Boilermakers were represented by Emile Gareau (International Indigenous Recruitment Representative), Robert Taylor (Lodge 191 Business Manager) and Sam Robertson (Lodge 191 member). Gordon Weel (Lodge 359 Training Coordinator) manned a booth for recruitment.
At the conference, Brothers Emile Gareau, Robert Taylor and Sam Robertson spoke of the opportunities as a Boilermaker.
IR Gareau, a 40-year Boilermaker who worked on the tools, supervision and elected as a Business Manager of his home lodge, speaks on the opportunities for Indigenous youth in the Boilermakers Union.
Brother Gareau, a 40-year Boilermaker who worked on the tools and in supervision before being elected Business Manager of Lodge 555, said “the Boilermakers are very serious about recruiting Indigenous Youth.” He shared his story about how he became a Boilermaker and his experiences as an Indigenous person in today’s world within the Boilermaker Union. He promoted Union membership and trade skills to Indigenous youth by explaining how one becomes a Boilermaker apprentice in British Columbia through the Boilermaker 23-week foundation program at BCIT.
(Left to right): Robert Taylor and Samuel Robertson share their journey in becoming Red Seal tradesmen.
Robert Taylor, a Red Seal Metal Fabricator who was a charge hand at Victoria Shipyard before being elected to Business Manager of Lodge 191, also emphasized the opportunities in the Boilermaker Union “I am Namgis First Nation from Alert Bay on Cormorant Island off of Northern Vancouver Island. I have seen the opportunities in the Boilermaker Industry and what the future holds. I feel it is necessary to reach out to my people, my family, friends and other bands regarding the opportunities within the Boilermakers Union.” He explained further to the crowd “191’s biggest employer Seaspan has been busy helping to reduce the carbon footprint of shipping by converting from bulk fuel to LNG.”
Samuel Robertson, an Indigenous person from Kingcome Inlet, an isolated fjord set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Coast Mountain Range of mainland B.C., spoke of his journey to becoming a Member of the Boilermakers. “I spent 12 years working in construction as a labourer, going job to job and getting lucky to finding one at $14.00 per hour. After getting laid off and becoming a father I knew I wanted to give my daughter a better life.” He explained that he joined a program called Canadian Aboriginal Ship Building Alliance and they helped him to complete a welding program and his grade 12 at the same time by the age of 33. On why he didn’t receive his grade 12 until then, he explained “My parents were in residential schools and they didn’t see the importance of school due to those experiences. When I woke up in the morning and I told my parents I didn’t feel well, they would let me stay home.” Today Samuel is a Red Seal and “A” level welder who recently finished his apprenticeship working at Victoria Shipyard.
As opportunities increase in the heavy industry in B.C., the need to offer these opportunities to Indigenous youth are important so they too can enjoy in the prosperity as a Boilermaker, and that is the role of IR Gareau.
Brother Taylor told the audience “the opportunities in construction and the shipyards are increasing, and by us promoting how we three have grown in our industries and Union is proof those opportunities are open to all.”
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