SAES Announces New Vocational Programs in Eeyou Istchee

Sabtuan Adult Education Services (SAES), the adult sector of the Cree School Board (CSB), recently shared a list of local and regional programs it plans to offer in the 2022-2023 school year.

Along with familiar programs like Carpentry (Eastmain, Oujé-Bougoumou), Secretarial Studies (Chisasibi, Nemaska), and Construction Business Management (Chisasibi, Mistissini), community members can now apply to new offerings such as Plumbing and Heating (Waskaganish), Protection and Development of Wildlife Habitats (Mistissini), and Health, Assistance, and Nursing (Chisasibi). Students can also attend programs at the state-of-the-art Sabtuan Regional Vocational Training Centre (SRVTC), which plans to offer in-demand trainings like Surveying and Topography, Refrigeration, and Welding in the coming year. Most of the programs are slated to begin during the Fall 2022 semester, and additional programs may be announced in the Winter months.

See Full Program Listing

The program announcement signals an exciting new chapter for SAES. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on training programs in Eeyou Istchee, with many programs delayed, put on hold, or limited in class size. Going into the 2022-2023 school year, SAES looks forward to being back better than ever.

"The pandemic measures were difficult, but I am proud to say that we did not waste that time. Even as our training centres and classrooms were closed, we made incredible progress on improving our services – hiring a full Student Success team, analyzing the Adult Learning Needs Assessment, drafting a cultural strategy, and building up our Sabtuan adult learning centres. Now that we can offer more programs once again, we look forward to seeing more of these improved services and processes in action."

Supports available to students include financial assistance, guidance counselling, and loaned laptops. For students attending a regional program at SRVTC, there is even more help available: the centre provides student residence rooms, catered meals, and paid travel to the centre.

Adults in Eeyou Istchee can see the full vocational program listing and apply here. All applications are now completed online, and applicant support is available to members of all Cree communities by phone at 1-844-923-3347 or email at .