Sabtuan Continuing Education, a division of the Cree School Board, was created to offer vocational training and adult education programs in Cree villages. This initiative grew out of the realization that Cree young adults are reluctant to leave their communities to study. Sabtuan offers remedial courses for adults (fourth and fifth year of high school), vocational training programs and correspondence courses to prepare Crees for college or university studies. Sabtuan’s head office is in Mistissini.

Sabtuan tries to offer courses that meet the needs of the Cree labour market. Vocational training programs are established based on community demand. For a number of years, the courses concentrated more on office work than technologies or trades, but this has changed since 2001 and the latter type of training is now very much in demand. In 2002-2003, Sabtuan introduced a new course in starting a business. In addition, a vocational training centre for 120 students equipped with a residence for students and staff opened its doors in Waswanipi, which make it possible for Cree youngsters to study trades that require considerable equipment (such as woodworking) within a Cree community.

The Cree takeover of human resources development services has made it easier to gear vocational training programs to labour market needs. Thus the Cree School Board and the CHRD are in the process of signing an agreement for development of vocational training programs more closely tailored to labour market needs.