The Yorkton Tribal
Council and the Mainline REDA together with other industry and government
partners established the Marieval Enterprise Center in January 1999. The intent
was to launch an innovative multi-cultural business center with a strong
management and staff capable of developing and delivering programs and services
throughout the region. The focus of the programming and services are on
economic development, entrepreneurial development, personal development,
employment readiness, labour force development, job enhancement, business
start-up, support services, and the development of business partnerships and
alliances. In June of 1999 the Marieval Enterprise Center was incorporated as a
non-profit corporation.
The Center
provides services to a region, which includes the seven First Nations of the
Yorkton Tribal Council, member communities of the Mainline Regional Development
Authority and the surrounding communities. These member communities range from
Norquay/Kamsack in the Northern region, to Stoughton in the South. The services
of the Center are available to everyone in the area.
“The
Marieval Enterprise Center Inc. is a partnership of communities. It is
recognized as a cross-cultural innovative business resource center providing a
respectful environment.
The Marieval Enterprise Center Inc. promotes and facilitates business and
learning opportunities, which empower our member communities and individuals to
build a stronger, brighter future.”
The Marieval
Enterprise Center has experienced significant success in working with community
residents in partnership with a variety of Provincial and Federal government
departments.
·
The Center opened in January 1999 with the launching of a
five-month Management Internship program. The goal of the program was to
provide 5 young adults who displayed strong leadership qualities with the
opportunity to further develop their abilities as entrepreneurs and managers.
The management internship program was completed on May 21, 1999. One
participant was hired full time by the Marieval Enterprise Center and would be
mentored over a three-year period to replace the management team. Three of the
remaining four participants secured full time employment and one talented artist
launched his own business and continues to secure contracts throughout the
province.
·
On June 1, 1999 the Marieval Enterprise Center launched a
Community Enhancement Program – Youth Services Canada Project. Ten youth
between the ages of 18 and 30 would participate in the program. The Program
ended in September and six were offered full time employment, 3 returned to
school or university that fall, 2 returned to school the next year. One of the
original 3 that returned to studies has now decided to take a break and work to
support a child. One of the original 10 participants took on a full time
parenting role until his son was old enough for daycare, his plan was then to
return to school; which he has since done.
·
In March 2000, 12 youth between the ages of 18 and 29 participated
in the program funded through a partnership of Human Resources Development
Canada, Kahkewistahaw First Nation and the Marieval Enterprise Center. Their
first 8 weeks of the 14-week program was classroom training. The program was
designed to assist with the personal and skill development of the participants,
with the goal of establishing a youth cooperative (Market Garden) and providing
volunteer services to beautify the community of Kahkewistahaw. After the
14-week program, the Kahkewistahaw First Nation provided funding to cover wages
for the remaining 10 youth from July 3 to October 6. The group continues to
pursue contract work to sustain themselves and their families during the
off-season. In the fall of 2001, the Marieval Enterprise Center together with
its partners established an advisory board for the market garden group (now
called Calling Lakes Enterprises) and will continue to support and mentor them
in the establishment of their venture.
·
June 2000, the Marieval Enterprise Center was honored with an
award through the Saskatchewan Labour Force Development Board with an award for
Equity Partnerships for the projects that were offered in 1999, through the
partnerships with HRDC.
·
In July 2001 the Marieval Enterprise Center in partnership with
HRDC (Yorkton and Regina offices) launched two more Youth Services Canada
Programs one on the Cote First Nation and one in the community of Whitewood.
Both programs have proved to be successful in assisting the young people in
making the transition to employment or furthering their education.
·
In July 2001 the Marieval Enterprise Center hired an additional
staff member through a partnership with HRDC and the Mainline Regional Economic
Development Authority. This Intern was a member of the first Youth Services
Canada project, who returned to school after the project ended; to advance her
education. She is now handling the computer training and the administration of
new programs, focusing on technology development. This addition to the staff of
MEC has enabled the organization to move quickly into assisting our member
communities with computer training and development, web page design and
development and the launching of an after school program through the department
of Justice. This intern is now employed full time for the Marieval Enterprise
Center Inc.
·
On August 1, 2001 the Marieval Enterprise Center Inc. was awarded
a three-year Community Learning Network contract through the Office of Learning
Technologies. This contract will ensure the continued development or the use of
technology for the member communities and increase the potential for additional,
new and innovative economic development activities throughout the region.
·
In October 2001, the Marieval Enterprise Center received a
contract through the Community Mobilization Program, administered through
Saskatchewan Justice. The project is an after-school program designed to
provide high-risk students with learning opportunities through role modeling,
computer training, presentations and work experience. The students must remain
in school and maintain good attendance. The project will complete in June of
2002.
·
In November 2001, the Marieval Enterprise Center launched the
Youth Services Canada Project - Focus on Tourism on the Cowessess First
Nation. The program hired 8 youth for a period of 16 weeks. They focused on
community tourism development and had a number of projects on the go. The
participants have been working and learning at a pre-trade level. The project
ended in March 2002.
·
In January 2002, the Marieval Enterprise Center launched a
Community Drop-In Center program in partnership with Saskatchewan Labour Force
Development. Eight communities within the region will have access to computer
training or business development workshops in their community.
·
In December 2001 the Marieval Enterprise Center provided two youth
with an employment opportunity as a Community Access Program Youth Intern.
These youth were from the communities of Cote and Ocean Man. This project was a
partnership with Industry Canada, and lasted for three months.
·
In March of 2002, with the cooperation of the Local Indian
Management Board and the Cowessess First Nation, the Marieval Enterprise Center
launched a 4-week Pre-trade Masonry course on the Cowessess First Nation. There
were 14 participants who successfully completed the course.
·
In March of 2002 in partnership with Ocean Man First Nation and
the Weyburn HRDC office, Marieval Enterprise Center launched a 6-month Youth
Service Canada project and a Masonry course on the Ocean Man First Nation. Ten
youth and a supervisor are employed through HRDC and Ocean Man has hired four
additional people for the project.
·
In April of 2002 the Marieval Enterprise Center launched a
Canadian Digital Collection program in partnership with Industry Canada. This
project is currently ongoing and has given the Marieval Enterprise Center the
opportunity to hire 4 youth for a period of 4 months. The objectives of this
project are to produce a web page that depicts a traditional experience in a
tipi camp.
·
In April 2002, the Marieval Enterprise Center launched a Youth
Service Canada project on the Cowessess First Nation in co-operation with Human
Resources Development Canada Yorkton office. This program has given 10 youth
ages 18-30 the opportunity to work related experience in community development
and beautification as well as experience working in the stone mason trade.
·
In June 2002, MEC was granted funding to host a Technology Intern
who will be working on developing web pages, technology infrastructure and
training.
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In June 2002, MEC will be mentoring a new staff member for 6
months in the areas of program design and implementation, computer skill
development, administration and supervising.
·
In July 2002 the Marieval Enterprise Center will launch a
two-month Summer Career Placement program in the communities of Key, Cowessess,
Sakimay, and Ocean Man.
·
In July 2002, MEC will host a work placement student who has
completed the first year of a Business Administration Program. The student will
assist MEC with program implementation for six weeks during the summer.
·
October 2002 in partnership with Industry Canada, became the South
East Network coordinator for 64 CAP Sites.
·
November 2002, In partnership with Painted Hand Community
Development Corporation to establish a program that focused on personal and
career development for persons overcoming addictions.
·
December 2002 In partnership with the Regional Development
Initiative was awarded a contract to complete a technology assessment of the 13
member communities of MEC.
·
January 2003 in partnership with Saskatchewan Justice launched an
after school program for high risk youth.
·
February 2003 in partnership with SaskTel Pioneer group launched
Faces of Racism Through the Eyes of a Child. This pilot project works with
children in grades 4, 5, and 6 from Cowessess School and Davison School in
Melville, Sask.
