Indigenous Women in Technology and the Trades

In celebration of National Indigenous History Month in Canada, CCWESTT is presenting a national panel discussion showcasing Indigenous women working in technology and the trades. 

Tune in to learn more about the changes they are making in their communities and working in their industries.

Event:  Indigenous Women in Technology and the Trades

Date:   Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Time:   2:30 pm NT, 2:00 pm AT, 1:00 pm ET, 12:00 pm CT, 11:00 am MT, 10:00 am PT

Place:  Zoom

Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZqbREjNoRe2nIa031QCMfQ 

We look forward to seeing you there!

Moderator:

Barbara James (she/her/they/them) belongs to the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw people of Port Hardy, B.C. She is a Red Seal carpenter and advocate for women and BIPOC in the trades. She currently works for BCIT as an instructor for the school of construction and the environment, and also works full time as a carpenter. She volunteers with various committees including VP of the BC Tradeswomen Society, Co-Chair for Build TogetHer, and a regional representative for BCCWITT. Barbara is a trustee for The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, local 1907 and a delegate to the Carpenters Regional Council. She is currently building a Big House for her people of the Tsulquate reserve, and feels this is the most important project of her career to date. This will be a cultural and ceremonial structure to practice in and use to continue teaching the youth the importance of their culture. She hopes to continue working within her community so that the trades may become a more welcoming and safer environment for everyone to pursue their passions. She is a firm believer that representation matters and says she understands her responsibility as a 2S carpenter in showing the world that 2S people exist and that they are just as capable. Gilakas’la (Thank you)

Speakers:

Cass Galbraith is Trades Support for Yukon University. She is Inuvialuk, from Tuktoyuktuk/Inuvik area and grew up in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Cass organizes Try-Trades for the university and travels to communities and teaches welding and carpentry to elementary/high school children through an afterschool program. She is a fourth year carpenter and a first year welder and has been a carpenter for 10 years and welder for 4 years.

Kara Potts is an entrepreneur that founded her company, Potts Painting, Inc., in 2018. Kara combines her experience and education to successfully maneuver her company through the changing economic climate of the construction industry.

Jamie Bainbridge is a 38-year-old mother of two kids. She earned a diploma in Electrical Engineering Technology at Saskatchewan Polytechnic in April of 2022 and began her career in June that same year. When she’s not at work she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, kayaking, and learning new things.

This project has been funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada.