STS Home Page
Profile Services Training Contact STS Home Page
             
 

  INTRODUCTION
  The Earth Keepers Program is an initiative of the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC), and the upcoming workshop will be co-delivered by Shibogama Technical Services and OFNTSC.
   
  THE PROGRAM
  Earth Keepers is a unique program designed to enable Ontario First Nations to develop community-based solid waste management plans. The program is composed of four training workshops, interspersed over a six-month period, which provide participants with the necessary skills and resources to identify sustainable methods of managing and reducing wastes in their community.
The program's consensus-driven planning approach encourages participants to draw on traditional knowledge, community resources and technical information to assess options for dealing with solid waste (garbage). For example, the Earth Keepers program could help a community identify the need for a new landfill site or the need to reduce the amount of garbage disposed of at a landfill site through recycling or composting initiatives.
   
FOR MORE INFO...   OVERVIEW OF WORKSHOPS
For additional information about the Earth Keepers Solid Waste Management Program please contact Wendy Mortimer, Environmental Scientist, OFNTSC or Avril Bundale, Environmental Officer, Shibogama Technical Services. Wendy Mortimer can be reached by phone at (416) 651-1443 or by email at wmortimer@ofntsc.org  

Unit I: "Introduction to the Solid Waste Management Planning Process"
The first workshop of the program introduces participants to the concept of sustainable waste management, traditional knowledge, community-based planning and problems of current waste management practices.
Unit II: "Establishing Your Community's Solid Waste Planning Process"
The second workshop focuses on 'waste reduction pathways' including reduce & reuse, composting and recycling. Unit II also includes lessons on aboriginal decision making, forming a Community Task Force (planning committee), designing a community participation process and developing community waste management vision & goals.
Unit III: "Preparing and Implementing a First Nations Solid Waste Management Plan"
The third workshop discusses responsible waste disposal and technical considerations of siting, opening, operating and closing waste management sites. Managing 'special' wastes such as used-oil, tires, hazardous wastes, and methods of raising community awareness through education and communication is also covered in this unit.
Unit IV: "Post-Program Networking & Technical Writing Support"
The final workshop of the program reviews the details of writing the community solid waste management plan including budgeting, scheduling, human resource capacities & training, work plans, etc. Developing proposals, funding opportunities and forming partnerships as they pertain to solid waste management are also reviewed.

<< Back to training page