Indigenous Students Participate in Pilot Project in Pipeline Monitoring Training at SAIT

By Deanna Burgart, P.Eng, CET

06-04-2018

 The Indigenous Pipeline Monitoring Pilot Project is a project delivered by Innotech Alberta and SAIT. The project seeks to train Indigenous people on the lifecycle of the pipeline, regulations, pipeline safety and inspection practices so they can be more engaged in their communities and in industry activities on their traditional territories. The project went through a process of "Indigenization" prior to the first cohort in April. This process engaged Indigenous people including Deanna Burgart, Indigenous Engineer (Indigeneer) who is also one of the program's instructors, and others, who are seeking to enhance the curriculum such that Indigenous - First Nations, Metis and Inuit - people can see their perspectives and experiences reflected in it. The program is taught by experienced pipeline engineers, Uwe Brandt, Deanna Burgart and Russell Wong, and the students learn multiple topics around pipeline monitoring, inspection techniques and pipeline regulations, codes and standards.

 Shauna-Lee Chai of Innotech Alberta is the program manager and the program seeks to train 60 Indigenous Pipeline Monitors in a three week full time intensive program at SAIT. The students will then proceed to complete a Capstone project or work experience. From there, a select few students will be chosen to either complete a full Pipeline Operations Certificate program, or detector dog training where they will learn to be handlers for leak detections dogs. It is our hope that this program will be the first step to better engaging Indigenous communities and involving them in leak detection, prevention and response in pipelines on their Traditional Territories. Feedback from the students and instructors has been overwhelmingly positive. 

 There will be an Industry night to meet the students on June 14 from 4 – 6. We are seeking sponsors and partners for future programs, and to help organize an industry and community showcase in the fall for the 60 students that complete the course. Our hope is to empower Indigenous students in Canada to hold more meaningful roles in the safety and performance of pipelines, and to have an informed voice throughout the lifecycle of the development process, from project inception to abandonment and reclamation.

 For more information on sponsorship of this program, or if your organization has work experience opportunities, please contact Stephanie Felker at [email protected]. Please ensure you write Indigenous Pipeline Monitoring in the email subject line.

To speak to Deanna Burgart about conducting a workshop or delivering a keynote presentation to your organization or association, please contact Deanna at [email protected].

Join our Empowered Innovation Newsletter!

empoweredinnovation.org/

Follow IndigeSTEAM to support outreach to Indigenous youth, students and professionals in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts (Society and Humanities) and Math \

www.indigesteam.ca/

See Deanna Burgart's profile on the International Indigenous Speakers Bureau

Related Articles