The Contemporary The Contemporary Aboriginal WorkforceAboriginal Workforce

Aboriginal employees will help reach Aboriginal employees will help reach and service the large, growing and service the large, growing

Aboriginal market.Aboriginal market.Key Facts:Key Facts:

• Population size- there are more than 1.3 million Aboriginal peoples across Population size- there are more than 1.3 million Aboriginal peoples across Canada (See Canada (See Figure 2Figure 2). ).

• Population growth - one of the fastest growing segments of the population Population growth - one of the fastest growing segments of the population in Canada, the Aboriginal population is increasing in every province and in Canada, the Aboriginal population is increasing in every province and territory (See Figures territory (See Figures 11, , 33, , 44, , 55). ).

• Sectoral impacts - significant positive impact will affect certain sectors such Sectoral impacts - significant positive impact will affect certain sectors such as education/training services, computer-based learning, youth recreation as education/training services, computer-based learning, youth recreation market, etc. market, etc.

• Growing financial strength - land claim settlements have yielded, and will Growing financial strength - land claim settlements have yielded, and will continue to yield, large sums of money to the Aboriginal population. As a continue to yield, large sums of money to the Aboriginal population. As a result, significant amounts are spent outside Aboriginal communities, result, significant amounts are spent outside Aboriginal communities, benefiting surrounding non-Aboriginal economies. benefiting surrounding non-Aboriginal economies.

• Purchasing power - resulting from population growth, income growth, Purchasing power - resulting from population growth, income growth, economic development and land claims. Aboriginal communities comprise economic development and land claims. Aboriginal communities comprise a multi-billion-dollar market for goods and services (a multi-billion-dollar market for goods and services (Figure 15Figure 15). ).

Aboriginal peoples represent an Aboriginal peoples represent an important source of new entrants and important source of new entrants and

new skills for the workforce.new skills for the workforce.Key Facts:Key Facts:

• Labour force growth - over the next decade (1997-2007), the Labour force growth - over the next decade (1997-2007), the Aboriginal labour force is projected to grow by 23 percent (Aboriginal labour force is projected to grow by 23 percent (Figures 7, 8Figures 7, 8). ).

• Rising education levels - the number of Aboriginal peoples with post-Rising education levels - the number of Aboriginal peoples with post-secondary education tripled between 1981 and 1991 to 150,000. The secondary education tripled between 1981 and 1991 to 150,000. The retention rate of on-reserve schools increased from 13 percent in retention rate of on-reserve schools increased from 13 percent in 1969-70 to 75 percent in 1995-96 (Figure 12). 1969-70 to 75 percent in 1995-96 (Figure 12).

• Extensive training activities - Aboriginal peoples participate in many Extensive training activities - Aboriginal peoples participate in many training initiatives. In 1990, Human Resources Development Canada training initiatives. In 1990, Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) started to sign partnership agreements with Aboriginal (HRDC) started to sign partnership agreements with Aboriginal peoples to facilitate Aboriginal training and employment. In the latter peoples to facilitate Aboriginal training and employment. In the latter part of this decade, HRDC has been exploring and experiencing the part of this decade, HRDC has been exploring and experiencing the transfer of authority over the design and delivery of Aboriginal transfer of authority over the design and delivery of Aboriginal training and employment programming to the Aboriginal community. training and employment programming to the Aboriginal community. The overall budget for this exercise, renewed for five years as of April The overall budget for this exercise, renewed for five years as of April 1999, continues to be over $200 million per year. 1999, continues to be over $200 million per year.

Aboriginal peoples represent an Aboriginal peoples represent an important source of new entrants and important source of new entrants and new skills for the workforce. new skills for the workforce. (Continued)(Continued)

Key Facts:Key Facts:

• Relevant skills - Aboriginal peoples work in many occupations, Relevant skills - Aboriginal peoples work in many occupations, including business and finance, management, social sciences and including business and finance, management, social sciences and education, health, and natural and applied sciences (See Figure education, health, and natural and applied sciences (See Figure 14). 14).

• Proximity to workplaces - most Aboriginal peoples live within Proximity to workplaces - most Aboriginal peoples live within commuting distance of the majority of workplaces. More than 80 commuting distance of the majority of workplaces. More than 80 percent of the on-reserve registered Indian population lives near percent of the on-reserve registered Indian population lives near urban centres or rural communities (See Figure 10). urban centres or rural communities (See Figure 10).

• Increased mobility - today, Aboriginal peoples are much more Increased mobility - today, Aboriginal peoples are much more mobile, with many relocating to where opportunities are available mobile, with many relocating to where opportunities are available (Figure 11). (Figure 11).

Aboriginal employment opportunities Aboriginal employment opportunities contribute to local community support contribute to local community support

for new resource development for new resource development projects.projects.

Key Facts:Key Facts:

• Environmental legislation - federal and provincial environmental Environmental legislation - federal and provincial environmental legislation gives local Aboriginal communities considerable legislation gives local Aboriginal communities considerable influence over project approvals, especially if such projects would influence over project approvals, especially if such projects would have a significant socio-economic impact on lifestyle and have a significant socio-economic impact on lifestyle and traditional activities.traditional activities.

• Licensing approvals - the Ontario government has stipulated that Licensing approvals - the Ontario government has stipulated that

any developer of "areas of traditional use by First Nations" must any developer of "areas of traditional use by First Nations" must negotiate all aspects of the development with the local First negotiate all aspects of the development with the local First Nations, as part of the licensing approval process. Nations, as part of the licensing approval process.

• Socio-economic impacts - the Nunavut Impact Review Board has Socio-economic impacts - the Nunavut Impact Review Board has the mandate to screen and review projects that may have the mandate to screen and review projects that may have significant adverse socio-economic effects on northerners or significant adverse socio-economic effects on northerners or projects that generate significant public concern. projects that generate significant public concern.

Providing employment opportunities Providing employment opportunities facilitates successful business joint facilitates successful business joint

ventures with Aboriginal communities.ventures with Aboriginal communities.

Key Facts:Key Facts:

• Community infrastructure - the growth and revitalization of Community infrastructure - the growth and revitalization of many Aboriginal communities is generating significant many Aboriginal communities is generating significant growth of community infrastructure, providing opportunities growth of community infrastructure, providing opportunities for joint ventures in construction and other areas of for joint ventures in construction and other areas of infrastructure development (Figure 16). infrastructure development (Figure 16).

• Aboriginal Business Procurement PolicyAboriginal Business Procurement Policy - the policy is - the policy is designed to increase the number of Aboriginal businesses designed to increase the number of Aboriginal businesses and joint ventures bidding for federal government contracts. and joint ventures bidding for federal government contracts. All federal departments are encouraged to set aside All federal departments are encouraged to set aside opportunities for Aboriginal suppliers. Aboriginal firms are opportunities for Aboriginal suppliers. Aboriginal firms are given first opportunity to supply goods and services in given first opportunity to supply goods and services in contracts servicing Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal joint contracts servicing Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal joint ventures must be 51 percent Aboriginal owned and firms of ventures must be 51 percent Aboriginal owned and firms of six or more employees, 33 percent of full-time employees six or more employees, 33 percent of full-time employees must be Aboriginal. must be Aboriginal.

Aboriginal employees bring knowledge Aboriginal employees bring knowledge and values that can assist corporate and values that can assist corporate

change and growth.change and growth.Key Facts:Key Facts:

• Aboriginal values - Aboriginal peoples place a high value on consensus Aboriginal values - Aboriginal peoples place a high value on consensus and respect for others. and respect for others.

• Diversity in decision making - Aboriginal employment increasing diversity Diversity in decision making - Aboriginal employment increasing diversity in the workplace. This, in turn, yields richness of ideas, better-informed in the workplace. This, in turn, yields richness of ideas, better-informed decisions and enhanced performance within the organization. decisions and enhanced performance within the organization.

• Respect for land - land is a valued legacy to future generations. Respect for land - land is a valued legacy to future generations. Traditional philosophy of land management is based on long-term Traditional philosophy of land management is based on long-term protection of the environment. protection of the environment.

• Traditional knowledge - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Traditional knowledge - the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has noted that "the indigenous peoples Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has noted that "the indigenous peoples of the world possess an immense knowledge of their environments, of the world possess an immense knowledge of their environments, based on centuries of living close to nature. Living in and from the based on centuries of living close to nature. Living in and from the richness and variety of complex ecosystems, they have an understanding richness and variety of complex ecosystems, they have an understanding of the properties of plants and animals, the functioning of ecosystems of the properties of plants and animals, the functioning of ecosystems and the techniques for using and managing them...." and the techniques for using and managing them...."

Aboriginal employment helps Aboriginal employment helps companies meet their legal companies meet their legal

obligations and improves their access obligations and improves their access to federal contracts.to federal contracts.

Key Facts:Key Facts:

• Employment Equity ActEmployment Equity Act - the Act requires federally-regulated - the Act requires federally-regulated employers to achieve a representative workforce. Organizations employers to achieve a representative workforce. Organizations that fall short of this goal may face complaints under the that fall short of this goal may face complaints under the Canadian Canadian Human Rights ActHuman Rights Act on grounds of employment discrimination. on grounds of employment discrimination.

• Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - the Charter (and - the Charter (and provincial and territorial human rights statutes) permits employers provincial and territorial human rights statutes) permits employers to take special measures to achieve equitable representation of to take special measures to achieve equitable representation of Aboriginal peoples and other groups in the workforce. Aboriginal peoples and other groups in the workforce.

• Provincial surface lease agreements - such agreements may set Provincial surface lease agreements - such agreements may set conditions that require mining companies to create and improve conditions that require mining companies to create and improve employment opportunities for Aboriginal peoples. employment opportunities for Aboriginal peoples.

• Federal Contractors Program - major contractors to the federal Federal Contractors Program - major contractors to the federal government are required to implement and report on their government are required to implement and report on their employment equity initiatives. employment equity initiatives.

Aboriginal employment opens Aboriginal employment opens international opportunities, especially international opportunities, especially

in the resources area.in the resources area.

Key Facts:Key Facts:

• New mining opportunities - as the likelihood of large surface mines New mining opportunities - as the likelihood of large surface mines in traditional mining areas diminishes, the exploration focus in on in traditional mining areas diminishes, the exploration focus in on new frontiers such as Canada’s northern territories, Latin America new frontiers such as Canada’s northern territories, Latin America and Asia-Pacific, all areas with significant indigenous populations. and Asia-Pacific, all areas with significant indigenous populations.

• Investment risk - community support or opposition significantly Investment risk - community support or opposition significantly impacts the risk and costs of large capital projects. Corporate risk-impacts the risk and costs of large capital projects. Corporate risk-management strategies place more emphasis on initiatives to management strategies place more emphasis on initiatives to achieve long-term community support. achieve long-term community support.

ReferencesReferences• Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative (Employer Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative (Employer

Toolkit book), c 1998Toolkit book), c 1998 Indian and Northern Affairs, Indian and Northern Affairs, CanadaGraphics reproduced by Barry Andrie, A.Sc.T., GIS CanadaGraphics reproduced by Barry Andrie, A.Sc.T., GIS Unit, IT, Saskatchewan Education, with the permission of Unit, IT, Saskatchewan Education, with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2002.Canada, 2002.