Wakenniosta Rosie Cooper: Hits Her Stride

“Originally, I was in university for my Bachelor of Science. I wanted to become a veterinarian but soon realized it wasn’t for me.”

Wakenniosta Cooper is currently in her sixth term as an electrical apprentice at the Electrical Joint Training Committee (EJTC) and clearly loves the new path she chose. She is dedicated to her trade and passionate about her work. Over the past few years, she won her company’s Apprentice of the Year award in 2021 and the level two top Apprentice in 2022. In March of 2023, she returned from Ottawa after representing the IBEW and the EJTC at the first state visit of President Biden to Canada.

The trades run in Wakenniosta’s family. “My biological dad was an iron worker, and my stepdad was an ironworker. My stepdad would constantly teach me how to use tools and work around the house. We moved from a nice and finished home in Quebec to BC, where we rented our home, and my stepdad and I would constantly be working on it and fixing it up. My stepdad greatly influenced me, and I learned a lot of trade knowledge from him.”

“Electrical was a mystery to me but intrigued me and got my attention.”

“Right now, I enjoy being constantly on the go. A lot of thinking comes with electrical work; it keeps my brain and body very busy.” Wakenniosta works at a new First Nations Health Authority building in BC. She works in controls and does a lot of pipe bending, although she typically works with electrical installations. “It’s a beautiful building, and it means a lot for me to work on it because I am First Nations too. My mom is a psych nurse and works with many First Nations, so I’ll be helping to build this center for all her co-workers.”

“I feel like I’ve hit my stride while working.”

Wakenniosta is driven to make things work. “I find the sense of accomplishment the most rewarding about this trade. I love going through a project from start to finish. One of my favourite things is switching a light on after doing all the wiring, bending the cable, putting the box up.”

Being the hard and dedicated working person that she is, Wakenniosta is looking forward to getting her Red Seal and, soon after, her Field Safety Representative ticket (FSR) to allow her to pull permits. Her dreams don’t stop there; Wakenniosta looks forward to one day becoming a superintendent leader in her industry. She also wants to get her high-voltage ticket to do high-voltage splices and terminations.

“Stability and accessibility are important to working in the trades.”

The Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS) has played a significant role in Wakenniosta’s career, and she is extremely grateful. “ACCESS is a straightforward and helpful tool for getting into the trades. They provide schooling for indigenous peoples wanting to join almost any trade. They are there for you the whole time, whether you need support, tools for school, or someone to talk to. I received funding from ACCESS, and they sent me to the EJTC for my apprenticeship. The whole process has been great, and I am looking forward to building my future in the electrical energy sector!”

For more information about ACCESS, look at their website: https://www.accessfutures.com/.

Written by: Savannah Davis, ClearWater Communications Co.