The program will provide full funding and a pathway to success in aviation for the selected participants. (Photo 196685200 © Auremar | Dreamstime.com)

By Derek Cornet

reaching the sky

New pilot program seeks to train northerners in aviation

Aug 1, 2024 | 5:00 PM

The Ya’thi Néné Land and Resource Office (YNLR) is proud to announce the launch of the Dziret’ái (Tsi-er-eh-tai) Pilot Training Program, a new initiative aimed at empowering Indigenous residents and women in Saskatchewan’s Athabasca Basin.

That’s according to a media release issued Thursday, which states the program is made possible through a collaborative partnership. The investments from PrairiesCan ($631,500) and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Immigration and Career Training ($375,000) will leverage industry cash and in-kind contributions and funding from Prince Albert Grand Council ($315,000), Cameco ($200,000), Orano Canada ($50,000), SSR Mining ($50,000), Rise Air ($690,000) and Ya’ thi Néné ($100,000).

The program will provide full funding and a pathway to success in aviation for the selected participants.The program was officially announced at an event in Stony Rapids on Thursday

“Air transportation is essential for connecting remote and northern communities and supporting our growing economy. With growing demand of airline pilots there is a critical need to support the training and development of pilots,” said Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison.

“We are proud to invest in this pathway for local Indigenous pilots from the Athabasca region to serve their communities and facilitate economic growth in our province.”

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Dan Vandal, the federal minister for PrairiesCan, said the government is proud to see the positive impacts the Dziret’ái Pilot Training Program will have on the businesses and communities in the Athabasca Basin.“

This collaboration will lead to good paying jobs for local Indigenous residents, while filling a critical need for pilots in Northern Saskatchewan.”

The Dziret’ái Pilot Training Program offers aspiring pilots a comprehensive pathway to earn their wings and the opportunity to begin their careers as First Officers with Rise Air upon completion. The program will admit fifteen successful applicants into the Elevated Skills Program, a fully funded skills and upgrading component running from mid-September to December.

Following this phase, 10 students will be selected to enter the pilot training program starting in January 2025. Efforts will focus on training and employing Indigenous residents and women, who are under-represented in aviation.

Training will take place at Mitchinson Flight Centre in Saskatoon, with integrated cultural supports including the presence of Elders and knowledge keepers, and opportunities to participate in cultural events. A formal graduation ceremony is planned for June 2026.

“Rise Air is honoured to partner with leading organizations in Saskatchewan’s north to make the Dziret’ái Pilot Training Program a reality, said Rise Air Board member, Rosalie Tsannie-Burseth.

“Together we have created a program that provides education and employment in a highly skilled profession. Rise Air is 100 per cent Indigenous owned by the communities we serve, and our goal is for program graduates to serve their communities. If we can inspire the next generation of students in the Athabasca Basin, we will have inspired positive change and hope for the future.”

The Dziret’ái Pilot Training Program is a significant step in addressing the critical pilot shortage that also impacts the mining sector in northern Saskatchewan. All mines in the Athabasca Basin rely heavily on air transportation to connect with remote communities and urban centres like Saskatoon and Prince Albert.

This shortage directly affects the operations of our partners, making this initiative an essential investment in the region’s economic infrastructure.

Online applications will be accepted at www.dziretai.ca until Aug. 5 at midnight.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com