Métis woman excels in a male-dominated trade
- James Oloo | July 24, 2017
In March 2017, Valine Gaudet was awarded Journeyperson Construction Electrician certification by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) after passing the Inter-Provincial Red Seal Electrical exam. Valine’s journey that had started six years earlier had both successes and barriers.
Valine visited Gabriel Dumont Institute in Saskatoon to inquire about application for a Métis card. That is how she met Dwayne Docken, Employment Counselor at Gabriel Dumont Institute Training & Employment, who told her about the newly launched federally-funded Skills and Partnership Fund GDI Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiative. Valine immediately liked the idea of joining the program and soon applied.
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At the time, the only training Valine had taken in the trades was Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Women in Trades Exploratory Course. The hands-on eight-day workshop gives women with no experience in the trades a chance to try their skills at Automotive Servicing, Carpentry, Electrical, Machining, Plumbing, and Welding. Valine knew she wanted to be an electrician and that she “had to start learning about the trade from the scratch,” she says.
The Skills and Partnership Fund GDI Aboriginal Apprenticeship Initiative (2011-2014) was a very successful program creating over 220 new apprenticeship jobs for Aboriginal peoples across Saskatchewan. It ended in 2014 and was succeeded by the current Western Economic Diversification Canada-funded GDI Aboriginal Apprenticeship Project. Valine was funded by both programs.
According to SATCC 2015-2016 annual report, there were 9,437 registered apprentices in Saskatchewan at the end of June 2016. Of these, 1,436 or 15.2% of all registered apprentices in the province were of Indigenous ancestry (940 First Nations and 496 Métis). In total, women made up less than five percent of traditionally male-dominated trades such as construction electrician, plumber, and heavy equipment mechanic among others.
Valine Gaudet was one of the women. So, how has it been like being a female in male-dominated trade? For Valine, “Being a woman on (work) site was sometimes tough. Sexist comments caught me off guard. A woman working in a place where men are the majority can be judged by her looks and her dress. Funny thing is, the comments can be that you are ‘sexy’ or not sexy.” She continues, “As a strong Indigenous woman, you should not let that negative vibe affect you. You have to grow a thick skin and try to be part of the guys instead of being a girl among boys.”
Valine states that, “At times women in male dominated trades get pushed aside. My advice to women is, don’t cry; rather fight for what you want. Speak out.” She continues, the “rewards of being a woman in the trades far outweigh the challenges you may go through. So, just get through the frustrations, give it your best and it will be ok.”
Looking back at her apprenticeship experience, Valine kept saying that “I can’t believe that I am now a journeyperson construction electrician.” This is because, “I did not realize how much math was involved in training to become an electrician. I had learning disability yet I surprised myself by passing. I studied a lot. I worked hard every night on math. I did not want to fail or quit. I passed. First attempt!”
Valine thanks her family for the support and motivation to succeed: “All my family members were very encouraging. They motivated me to keep going.”
Valine goes back to the day she came to Gabriel Dumont Institute for the first time. “Dwayne (Docken) and Gabriel Dumont Institute changed my life. I would still be doing minimum wage jobs today. I like being an electrician. Now I am planning on buying a house.” She continues, “Gabriel Dumont Institute opened doors for me. Had it not been for GDI my life would probably be worse today.” As she puts it, “GDI provided me with financial assistance to buy books, tools, plus helped me with my travel expenses.”
Valine is thankful for the employer GDI sent her to. As she puts it, “My first foreman showed me the ropes. He did not treat me differently, but he brought me under his wings. It was my first time on the worksite, but he set me on the right path and taught me. He was a good supervisor.”
Valine is planning on working for a few years then going back to school to get her Blue Seal certification. The Blue Seal will enable her to own her own business. For more information about Gabriel Dumont Institute Aboriginal Apprenticeship program, please call 1-877-488-6888 or apprenticeships@gdins.org.