The Federal Government is earmarking $500,000 to help Indigenous youth in Manitoba learn how to code.

Ottawa is allocating the funding through CanCode, a $50-million federal program that gives students from kindergarten to grade 12 the opportunity to learn digital skills.

Doug Eyolfson, Member of Parliament for Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingly, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi First Nation Chief Stephanie Blackbird and staff from the Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre made the announcement today.

“Coding is exploding on the scene,” Eyolfson said. “It used to be one of those niche jobs for computer programmers but there’s more and more digital technology in all sorts of fields now whether it’s medicine, industry or agriculture.”

“This will help them be competitive in more types of work.”

Eyolfson says Indigenous people are underrepresented in a lot of well-paying industries and this funding should help them compete for more jobs.

Manitoba First Nations Education Resource Centre Assistant Director, Marcella McCorrister says this funding is going to be important for students.

“The science team here has been implementing coding in schools and this funding will enhance that programming,” McCorrister said. “It will enhance their skills for the future.

Blackbird says students on her First Nation have already been introduced to and thrived in science programs in the past, so she’s excited to see what results will come from this funding.

“The science and training and skills coming into my community is very valuable and it’s great for our school and all First Nations students in Manitoba to get our kids in that field,” she said. “It’s a really good opportunity.”

This funding will reach 200 teachers and 2,000 students on First Nations across the province.