Trades on the Road to Reconciliation
Gitxaala tradesperson and instructor Raven Hillenbrand shares her journey of empowerment through the skilled trades and the BC Building College.
Raven Hillenbrand, a Gitxaala tradesperson and plumbing instructor.
The skilled trades, says Raven Hillenbrand of the Gitxaala First Nation in BC, offer “great opportunity” to First Nations members and especially to young people.
She should know: “I’m fortunate to have three tickets. I’m a Red-Seal-endorsed plumber, a steamfitter and pipefitter, and I have my Class B gas-fitter ticket. Never enough!”
She’s also a plumbing instructor at the UA Piping Industry College of BC in Delta (UA meaning Local 170 of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry).
“The most rewarding thing about being an instructor is when I can see that light go on, right? When I’m explaining something and taking the time to not only just teach it but also to work with each individual and their different learning styles. It’s a good feeling when I know that they’ve grasped it and can understand and get through it.”
That school and its three campuses are part of a larger scene in BC in which the College of the BC Building Trades offers trades-training programs that lead students to Red Seal qualification — “the four-year equivalent of a bachelor’s degree.”
That college is an association of training providers affiliated with the 25 construction unions that belong to the BC Building Trades. The college has more than a dozen trade-specific schools and connected campuses, including the UA Piping Industry College.
The BC Building Trades have been building BC since 1967. And in 2022, the 40,000-member organization was a silver sponsor of the Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase, an event returning on June 1-2, 2023.
“The BC Building Trades made a commitment to Indigenous reconciliation many years ago,” said Brynn Bourke, executive director. “A key part of that commitment is to ensure that we very purposefully explore meaningful, supportive partnerships with Indigenous people who are seeking to build careers in the skilled trades.”
Red Seal certifications are not where Raven Hillenbrand thought she would go.
“When I was younger, I thought about getting into the healthcare system. Another one was architecture. I wanted to be an architect. I liked designing things, I liked learning about things, I liked the discovery of new things.
“But my father always told me it’s good to have some training under your belt, and I’ve always been a hands-on person. Being in a trade requires you to be hands-on. And being creative is another strong piece that I can put towards being a tradesperson.
“The most rewarding thing was the knowledge and confidence I’ve gained. You know, you can never learn enough. And the more that I can get out there, and get out there with the tools, hands-on, whether it be in the classroom or in the field, my confidence level grows as I continue to move forward.”
The biggest challenge?
“Removing barriers as a female and a First Nations individual, and being a single mother. Removing barriers was a big, big challenge, but I just kept going. The union played a huge role. They’ve supported me going through my apprenticeship, and when I had troubles, they never gave up on me. I felt I was at home.
“I got into the trades a little later in life. But for younger people, it’s a great opportunity. Now they’ve got the high schools introducing these young people to trades. It’s great. They’ll be a journey by age 25. And I’m proud of them for that.”
Proud, too, of her family members in or heading toward the trades.
Her daughter, Jasmine McKay, is a first-year plumbing student at 21 years old. Her son, Eisley McKay, is a second-year student steamfitter — and his mom is one of his instructors. Meanwhile, her husband, James Hillenbrand, is a plumber.
Jasmine recalls: “When other moms put on office or business clothes for work, mine wore steel-toe boots and work gear. She works hard and she’s good at her job. She’s a tradeswoman, and I’m pretty proud of that.”
For the Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase, Raven Hillenbrand hopes for progress on the road to Reconciliation.
“I believe we’re headed in that direction. There’s a lot of people in Canada that are on board with that, and I hope we keep going.”
Find out more about the Indigenous Partnership Success Showcase, coming June 1 and 2, 2023, in-person in Vancouver and online at www.Indigenoussucess.ca.