Indigenous Aviation Career Awareness & Employment Pathways

Initiative at a Glance

Participant and employer-partner counts are Kaskitew-Maskwa project and program figures.

• Launch Date: Sept 8, 2026
• Participants: 30
• Employer Partners: 7
• Location: Alberta

Aviation needs workers. Indigenous talent and community priorities can strengthen the sector.

ESDC projects 8,700 job openings for air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors in Canada from 2024 to 2033, compared with 5,300 new job seekers, and assesses a strong risk of labour shortage.

According to the 2021 Census, the Indigenous population grew by 9.4% from 2016 to 2021 and had an average age of 33.6 years, compared with 41.8 years for the non-Indigenous population.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

Indigenous peoples were underrepresented in federally regulated private-sector air transportation in 2023, representing 2.7% of employees compared with 3.9% labour-market availability.

This initiative aligns Indigenous participants and communities with aviation employers, career pathways, training providers, and government while responding to documented occupation-specific workforce pressure.

The objective is not to fill seats. It is to build genuine, long-term Indigenous participation in one of Canada's most dynamic and technically demanding industries — with employers, communities, and government working together to make it real.

Source: Employment and Social Development Canada, Canadian Occupational Projection System, Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors (NOC 72600), 2024–2033.

Source: Employment and Social Development Canada, Employment Equity Act: Annual Report 2024, Table 3A (2023 workforce data).

Source: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census of Population.

8,700 — Projected openings for air pilots, flight engineers & flying instructors, 2024–2033. ESDC projects 5,300 new job seekers in Canada over the same period and assesses a strong risk of labour shortage.

Evidence-based workforce planning creates a stronger foundation for practical, accountable action.

What This Initiative Will Achieve

• Career Awareness — Introduce Indigenous participants to the breadth of aviation career pathways — from aircraft maintenance engineering to airport operations, aerospace manufacturing, administration, and technical trades.
• Employment Readiness — Prepare participants with the practical tools, skills, and professional confidence needed to succeed in aviation industry employment.
• Industry Exposure — Create direct experience in aviation operating environments through employer-led site visits, hangar tours, aircraft exposure, and hands-on learning opportunities.
• Employer Partnerships — Engage aviation employers in meaningful, long-term commitments to Indigenous recruitment, mentorship, and sustainable workforce development.
• Community Collaboration — Work in genuine partnership with Indigenous Nations and community organizations, ensuring the initiative reflects community priorities, values, and workforce needs.
• Training Navigation — Connect participants with training programs, certifications, apprenticeship pathways, and educational institutions that lead to long-term aviation employment.
• Long-Term Employment — Support participants from initial career awareness through to placement in sustained, quality aviation employment with long-term retention support.
• Mentorship — Connect participants with Indigenous and industry mentors providing professional guidance, career development support, and long-term relationships.

How the Initiative Will Be Delivered

• Employer Engagement — Aviation employers commit to the initiative as active partners, providing site visits, mentorship access, employment pathways, and long-term recruitment commitments.
• Community Outreach — Kaskitew-Maskwa works with Indigenous community and organizational partners to reach eligible participants and understand their workforce priorities.
• Participant Recruitment — Eligible participants are identified through community partner referrals, supported through the selection process, and prepared for program entry.
• Career Awareness — Participants receive structured exposure to aviation careers through employer presentations, professional panel discussions, and industry expert sessions.
• Industry Exposure — Participants visit aviation facilities and operating environments, meet professionals across the sector, and experience the industry firsthand.
• Employment Readiness — Participants develop practical skills including resume development, interview preparation, professional communication, and workplace culture readiness.
• Employment & Ongoing Support (September 2026) — Participants are connected to employment and training opportunities, with continued support through the transition into the aviation workforce and beyond.

Initiative Partners

• Government of Alberta — Government Partner
• Sunwest Aviation — Employer Partner
• Elevate Aviation — Delivery Partner
• Tsuut'ina Nation Career & Employment Resource Centre — Community Partner
• Rocky Mountain Aircraft — Employer Partner
• Juhlin Remote Pilot Consulting — Employer Partner
• W4P Consulting — Strategic Partner

Who This Initiative Is For

• Participants — Indigenous Canadians in Alberta exploring career opportunities in aviation, aerospace, aircraft maintenance, airport operations, skilled trades, and related technical pathways.
• Employers — Aviation and aerospace employers building diverse workforce pipelines and long-term relationships with Indigenous communities and talent.
• Indigenous Communities — Nations and community organizations connecting their members to quality aviation employment and meaningful, long-term economic participation.
• Educational Institutions — Colleges, training organizations, and certification bodies whose programs align with aviation career pathways and initiative participant needs.
• Government — Federal and provincial funders and policy stakeholders investing in Indigenous workforce development and aviation sector capacity building across Canada.
• Industry Partners — Aviation industry organizations, associations, and strategic partners committed to measurable and sustainable Indigenous participation.

Expected Outcomes

• Indigenous aviation career awareness and pathway understanding
• Direct industry exposure and aviation worksite access
• Employment readiness skills and professional confidence
• Employer engagement and long-term recruitment pathway commitments
• Community collaboration and sustained trust
• Professional networking and industry connections
• Access to aviation training programs and certifications
• Long-term aviation employment and retention support

Initiative Timeline

• Planning — complete. Initiative design, partner agreements, program structure development, and participant selection process.
• Employer Engagement — active. Partner site visit scheduling, mentorship program design, and employer commitment finalization.
• Community Outreach — active. Participant recruitment through Indigenous community partners and organizational outreach.
• Program Delivery (September 8, 2026) — launch. Career awareness sessions, employer site visits, employment readiness training, and industry exposure activities.
• Employment Support — upcoming. Post-program employment connections, career pathway navigation, and long-term retention support.

Related Initiatives

• IndigiSEC — Cybersecurity & Defence
• Indigenous Digital Workforce Initiative — Technology & Innovation
• Industrial Energy Initiative — Energy & Infrastructure
• Defence Workforce Initiatives — Defence & National Security

Common Questions

Who can participate?

This initiative is open to Indigenous Canadians living in Alberta who are exploring career opportunities in aviation and related industries. Participants are recruited through Indigenous community partners and organizations. If you are interested in participating, contact your local Indigenous community organization or submit a General Project Inquiry below.

How are employers involved?

Employer partners provide workplace site visits, mentorship access, industry insights, and commit to long-term recruitment pathways for participants who are ready to enter the workforce. Employers are integral to the initiative — not just as hosts but as long-term partners in building an Indigenous aviation workforce. If your organization is interested in becoming an employer partner, use the form below.

How do communities participate?

Indigenous Nations and community organizations contribute as outreach and referral partners, helping to identify eligible participants and ensuring the initiative reflects community workforce priorities. Community partners also play an ongoing role in connecting program graduates to local supports and opportunities. If your community is interested in partnering, submit a Community Partnership inquiry.

How are participants selected?

Participants are recruited through Indigenous community partner organizations. The selection process prioritizes Indigenous identity, interest in aviation careers, and readiness for program participation. Participants do not need prior aviation experience — this initiative is designed to introduce people to the industry, not to train those who are already in it.

Is funding available for participants?

This initiative is supported by the Government of Alberta. Questions about participant support, any associated costs, or available funding should be directed through the General Project Inquiry form below, and a member of the Kaskitew-Maskwa team will follow up directly.

How can our organization become a partner?

Organizations interested in becoming employer, delivery, or community partners are welcome to submit an expression of interest using the form below. We are open to aviation employers of all sizes, training providers, industry associations, and organizations with existing Indigenous community relationships.

How do educational institutions become involved?

Educational institutions and training providers interested in connecting their programs and pathways to initiative participants and employer partners should submit a General Project Inquiry. We are actively seeking alignment with AME training programs, pilot pathways, aviation technology courses, and related post-secondary offerings.