Joyce Dumais
Welder

Welder at Syncrude Canada Ltd. in Mildred Lake in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Joyce Dumais of the Fort McMurray #468 First Nation began in the mining industry as a welder's helper 10 years ago. At the time, Joyce was aware that journeymen welders were in high demand, so she decided to pursue this career path. She has since become trained as a Journeyman Welder. In fact, Joyce was the first female to graduate from the Alberta Aboriginal Apprenticeship Program and she won't stop there!

Joyce is certainly a woman who is determined to succeed. Her immediate career plan involves getting into quality control in the mining industry, but ultimately, her aspiration is to work with Aboriginal individuals. She wants to help First Nations people get their high school diplomas.and get into apprenticeship programs and universities. Joyce has firsthand experience in the mining industry and knows there are many jobs available to Aboriginal individuals who are interested in mining, and she wants to help.

Her journey has not been an easy one. Joyce has had to use significant time-management skills in order to raise two children while working 12-hour shifts at a job that was an hour away from home. When her children were young, it was not uncommon for Joyce to have to leave them with the babysitter at 4 am so she could make it to work for her shift. Now that her children are teenagers, it is a little easier to schedule their lives together, with her career.

Joyce has experienced her share of prejudice as a Native female apprentice working in a male-dominated industry. But according to Joyce, the environment in the mining industry has changed for the better. It has become a healthier environment in which to work. In response to the adversity she experienced at the beginning of her career, Joyce has learned how to stand up for herself, and how to work towards her dreams without being discouraged by others. Joyce has great determination and many dreams beyond her already considerable accomplishments.

Joyce's work-schedule (12-hour shifts of four days on, five days off, five days on, four days off) guarantees that she has at least two weekends off a month, enabling her to spend time with her children when they are not in school. Joyce would love to become more involved in Native culture and would love it if more powwows were hosted in her area. Where she grew up, in Bonnyville, south of Fort McMurray, if a powwow were hosted, thousands of people would attend. She hopes that, one day, Fort McMurray will also be home to more cultural activities.

"It doesn't matter how small or insignificant you might feel where you are right now. Always keep your dreams big. Think big. If you stay positive and keep an open mind and stand up for yourself, eventually you'll get what you want: you'll achieve your goals. I'm not done here, just being a welder. I've got my goals set as well."  - Joyce Dumais