Vince Kuzdak, Natural Resources Consultant

Aboriginal Perspective

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I think the work that I am doing is important because I’m helping, for example Manitoba Hydro, improve and maybe respect a little more of the aboriginal culture, the traditions and things.

"I’m not teaching them, but I’m giving them a different perspective on how it’s observed from the aboriginal side. And I think they enjoy that and they think that’s important for them as well."

Salvage Work

While the bulk of my work is surveying forests after harvesting, I have also salvaged timber after a forest fire. Because the fire was so hot and moved very quickly, it didn't completely burn the forest but charred the bark.

We performed a salvage operation so we could use the fibre instead of cutting green trees.

Many Hats

In addition to being a consultant and performing forest-related surveys, I also manage my own company. The consultant part is working in the field and consulting with clients, the community and government.

As a business owner, I respond to all communication, manage the financial end of things, market the company and negotiate new contracts. During peak times, I employ up to six people.

How I Work

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I do a lot of my work with Manitoba Hydro within a team atmosphere. We kind of all report to one another and very strong on communication.

"During the spring to fall period I have upwards of six employees and I have what I call one crew leader, and that crew leader would report to me on a regular basis."

Where I Work

I am the Owner and President of Eagle Vision Resources, a company I've had for four years. I work as a Natural Resources Consultant.

My company surveys forests after paper or forest companies have harvested, to ensure there is a young forest growing back.

If the survey results don't meet provincial standards, the company that harvested is responsible for planting trees to ensure ongoing resources.

Work Environment

It varies from contract to contract, but about 25 percent of the work I do is in the office. I spend another 25 percent of my time travelling. Depending on the destination, I may travel by vehicle, boat, ATV, airplane, helicopter or on foot. The remaining time, I work outdoors.

The elements can be extreme - heat, cold, insects, rain or wetness and rough terrain - so the outdoors work can be quite vigorous.

Family

I got married just last year. We went to Las Vegas in December and got married there. It was a lot of fun.

We recently discovered we're expecting our first child and we're very excited. We're a small family, my wife and I - no dogs or pets or anything - so having a child will definitely change things in our home.

Keeping Balanced

I'm happy with my home/work balance right now. In the past it was often feast or famine - no work for a month and then everything would come at once.

When work is busy, I tend to neglect family life and that creates tension. When I'm on the road, my twelve to fourteen hour day often begins very early.

That's when I make time for my personal life.

Just Persevere

Moving up in the workforce was difficult. I worked for the government and if I was promoted or secured the more superior job, I had to deal with racial remarks, jealousy and resentment. I found that uncomfortable, but it was a good learning experience.

You just have to persevere. I got through it and didn't let it bother me in anyway. I kept a positive outlook and things worked out in the end.

Home Base

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I live in a place called Hillside Beach which is just north of Grand Beach. It's a nice, quiet area - kind of a cottage country atmosphere.

"My wife works as a diabetes health nurse for Fort Alexander Health Centre which is just up the road. Being in Winnipeg and my client Tembec in Pine Falls, it's convenient for both of us."

Life in Manitoba

We have a half acre lot in the beach area but we're not on the waterfront. In our bay, there are about fifty cottages, twelve of which are year-round.

Most of my family lives in Manitoba and I have good friends that also live here.

I love spending time outdoors and enjoy boating, fishing and hunting.

Tolerable Pace

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"It can be very hectic at times; a lot of meetings, lots of deadlines. And then at times it slows right down where I do a lot of catch-up on my reading, reviewing reports and such.

"I would say for the most part the pace is very tolerable. It's not so slow that you get bored but it's not so hectic that you're run off your feet and get frustrated. It's comfortable, I would say."

High Pressure

At times, I can be under a lot of pressure at work because my contracts have timelines and dates when things need to be completed by.

The weather is a factor that can slow things down. If we have bad weather and can't get out to the worksite, we're not working and we're not making money.

Long-Term Planning

My contracts with Manitoba Hydro are less intense because we start things so early in the game. For example, we're meeting with communities in northern Manitoba about generating sites that are six, seven or eight years down the road.

We're dealing with the communities beforehand so there's time to get things done right. Communities have often told Hydro everything was shoved down their throats so fast there was nothing they could do. I'm helping to try to reverse that.

Economic Development

I've worked really closely with communities, trying to create economic development. Hydro and Tembec looked to me to help create employment at the local level.

Rather than having someone come in from outside the community to build a road, harvest or plant a trees for example, it's always best for the work to be spread out within the community if the qualifications are there.

That has shifted and now I'm doing less community work and more Forest Management surveys.

Community Liaising

I often travel hours to a remote community to meet and greet the local government. I show PowerPoint presentations to the community and answer questions. My responsibility is to explain Hydro's Trapper Notification Compensation Policy.

Some First Nations people have offices in Winnipeg, but we try to get to the communities as much as possible to deliver information to people who will be directly affected by hydroelectric development.

Different Teams

As much time as I spend working with people - with the communities, with teams of people from different companies, with the government, with Chiefs, environmental officers, foresters and the Aboriginal Relations Officer at Hydro - I work a lot by myself.

I'm comfortable with both. I enjoy contributing to a team, being a part of the whole picture but I also enjoy being a team of one.

What Makes Me Proud

I was most proud of being able to train and hire young aboriginals. Having them work on my team, complete work on time and prompt excellent quality reports from Tembec and the government was exciting.

I think industry and government want to see young aboriginal entrepreneurs like me succeed. They are willing to work with aboriginal businesses.

Because the issues I work with are somewhat unique, I find opportunities are plentiful.

Natural Choice

My grandfather was a commercial fisherman and trapper. His love for the land is in my blood. I have a concern for the environment and for the aboriginal peoples who have a strong relationship to the land.

Helping companies understand this and develop an appreciation for it speaks volumes to the communities we work in. I was looking at being a carpenter. Because Red River was full, I was put on a waiting list.

I think things worked out for the best. This is my calling.

Necessary Skills

When you're working with people, being too aggressive can scare them off. Respect is important. Acknowledge when people are talking and listen carefully. Be friendly and try to make people feel comfortable.

Be organized and professional and deliver the results or products your clients are looking for. Know what you are capable of doing and make sure you don't take on what you can't handle.

Feel Good About Work

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"I love what I do - working with natural resources, working in the outdoors, trying to help people and employing young people, helping them build capacity.

"I think it makes you a better person over all, knowing that you are working and that my schedule is full this week. That's a good feeling. I think it gives you some peace of mind."

Gaining Experience

I've worked in natural resources in one way or another since I was fourteen. I've planted trees, fought forest fires, done some commercial fishing and got a job landscaping.

After graduating, I got a job with the Province of Manitoba as a Parks Officer where I did a lot of different things - Fire Ranger, Wildlife Fisheries Patrolman - before working with paper companies like Louisiana Pacific and Tembec.

Business Training

Before starting my own business, I worked in the forestry sector for large companies. You really need to enter the workforce and work for a company to get the feel of things.

In my case, I had so much experience and learned so much by paying attention to my superiors and managers. I was always in there, asking questions.

Make sure you're cut out for it. You could also take a small business course.

High School Courses

Performing forestry surveys involves data collection, interpreting aerial photos and hands-on work, so make sure you have university entrance math and sciences. Certainly take Biology, Ecology, Earth Sciences - things of that nature.

A scientific perspective on wildlife and foliage is important too. These courses will give you the background to use tools like compasses, increment bores, Global Positioning Systems, your eyes, data books and pencils in the field.

Editor's Note: An increment bore is a tool that drills a hole in a tree trunk to take a sample for analyzing the age of the tree and growth performance by looking at the rings.

Important Advice

Go out and get the education. Figure out which sector you want to be in, be it Forestry, Wildlife, or Fisheries, and get the experience. Even when you're not in school, try to get jobs that are related to your field of interest.

Experience counts for a lot. I've seen people go to school for years who have a hard time finding work because they have no experience.

Continue to learn. Be curious and inquisitive. The main thing is to make sure you enjoy what you're doing.

Trades and Technology

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

There's nothing wrong with having a career in trades, being employed in trades and technology. At one time I was potentially going to be a carpenter. And I have a lot of family who are in trades and the technology sector."

Outlook for Manitoba

(TEXT FROM SOUND BITE)

"From a professional side of things, I think being in Manitoba is going to become very exciting for all the opportunities that are on the horizon. With the developments in northern Manitoba and the potential for forestry, my outlook for business is quite positive."

Career Goals

My goal is to attract other aboriginal consultants within the environmental field so we could work as a team to assess the environmental impact and work with the communities.

Helping the communities to understand the nature of the developments is another goal. I think communities would be more likely to sit down, listen to and trust an aboriginal group.

That's my ultimate goal - to continue growing and working in the natural resource field.

Expand My Business

Eventually I would like to have an office in Winnipeg with full-time employees and an office staff. I think it's very achievable. Within the next five years, there's a chance I could make this happen.

Even then, though the travel aspect can be tough, I would like to be as hands-on as possible. I like getting out into the community, seeing new places and meeting new people.

Ongoing Learning

Right now it would be too much of a juggle, but one day I hope to get my degree in the environmental field. I'd also like to take a computer course because I know I'm not using it to its full advantage.

Because I do so much work with the aboriginal community, I would like to be able to speak Ojibway. My Grandma is the only one in our family that speaks Ojibway. We've all lost it. I've tried learning with a CD at home but it's hard - you need the interaction to really learn.

Job Market Info

The links below take you to federal and regional government information on employment, education, salary ranges and long range prospects for this career.

The official name for Vince's occupation is "Forestry Technologists and Technicians" and its *NOC code is 2223.

Job Futures

Manitoba Labour Market Information

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

*Each occupation has an official name and unique number called the 'National Occupational Classification' code or 'NOC'.

Education

Useful High School Subjects*

- Sciences
- Math
- Social Studies
- English

*Source: Job Futures.ca

After high school 

University of Manitoba

Bachelor of Environmental Science
Graduate Programs in Natural Resources
Asper School of Business

University of Winnipeg

Environmental Studies
Environmental Studies Fact Sheet (Bachelor of Arts)
Environmental Studies Fact Sheet (Bachelor of Science)
Centre for Forest Interdisciplinary Resource

Red River College

Full Time Programs
Then click on any of the following:
Aboriginal Language Specialist
ACCESS Integrated Science and Technology
Applied Biology
Applied Environmental Studies
Community Development/Community Economic Development
English for Professional Purposes
Technology Management

Environmental Protection Technology

Brandon University
Botany
Environmental Science

Assiniboine Community College - Brandon
Aboriginal Community Development (Economic Stream)
Aboriginal Community Development (Social Stream)
General Business
GIS Environmental Technologies
Land and Water Management

University College of the North - The Pas/Thompson
All Programs
Natural Resources Management Technology page 41
Computerized Business Skills - page 31

Related Careers

Related Careers

Environmental Technician - 2231

Managers of Government Forestry Policy and Program Administration - 0412

Forestry and Woodlands Operations Managers - 0811

Silviculture and Forestry Workers - 2122

Forest Economists - 4162/A>

Managers of Research in Forestry - 0212

Professional Associations

Professional Associations

Manitoba Forestry Association
- provincial organization committed to forestry education

Canadian Forestry Association
- national conservation organization

Manitoba Trappers Association
Box 518, Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba R0E 1A0
Telephone: (204) 345-9107
- represents a membership of trappers that is committed to ensuring local traditions are honoured

Manitoba Wildlife Federation
- provincial conservation organization committed to conservation of wildlife resources

Association of Woodlands Trainers
- organization supporting professionals with an interest in training forest workers in Canada and the US

Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce
Box 308, Grand Rapids, Manitoba R0C 1E0
Telephone: (204) 639-2386
- business organization supporting aboriginal entrepreneurs in Manitoba

Manitoba Model Forest
- informational website about sustainable forestry practices in the province

Community Partners

Community Partners

This project was funded by Manitoba Education's Technical Vocational Initiative. Educational and community partners for this project are Frontier School Division and Wanipigow - Hollow Water First Nation. For more information, see below.

The Hollow Water First Nation is part of the Southeast Tribal Council Community.

Wanipigow School is located on the Hollow Water Reserve and is part of the Frontier School Division.

The mission of the Frontier School Division is to provide, in partnership with parents and community, high quality education for all students so that they can develop the skills, knowledge, attitudes, and character essential for successful participation in our changing society.

The Technical Vocational Initiative works with education partners, business, industry and labour to develop and recommend strategies that address the six "Action Pillars" that form the core of its mandate. They invite you to visit their website to find out more about TVI's Vision, Pillars of Action and Expected Outcomes.