Aboriginal people in the workplace

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Continuing demographic changes within western Canada have forced our business communities to re-evaluate the economic potential of the Aboriginal population in terms of market expansion as well as a human resource base.

Recent research points out that the expected population growth of Aboriginal people within the next 10 years will have an enormous influence on the way businesses stay competitive and profitable within their own spheres in the near future.

As business continues with its expansion plans into the export markets, both nationally and internationally, they recognize the importance of maintaining and increasing their established markets at home. In order to secure home-based markets and achieve a respectable market increase, Canadian business will be forced to learn how to conduct business within Aboriginal communities.

To remedy shortages of key personnel due to newly-established export markets, human resource management teams will be forced to rely on the Aboriginal population.

In the past, most businesses have been hesitant in attempting to form a solid business relationship with an entrenched foundation inside Aboriginal communities. Negative stereotyping, political unrest, institutional and cultural racism, social and economic stratification, combined with a history of mistrust, have been contributing factors in establishing the enormous breach that exists between mainstream business and the Aboriginal market

In order to bridge this gap, non-Aboriginal businesses must be prepared to gain an understanding of the cultural differences that exist between the two diverse ethnic groups. They will have to make an honest attempt to overcome their own biases, as well as disregard the preconceived images of Aboriginal people that are so prevalent in today's workplace.

They must be willing to accept Aboriginal people as equals, and respect them both as business partners and individuals. They will have to gain the ability to overcome the negativity and recognize the positive contributions that Aboriginal people can bring to their businesses both as consumers and as professionals.

Aboriginal people want to work within mainstream society, while protecting their own ethnic and cultural identities. They will no longer allow themselves to be token representatives of their communities. They want positions of trust and responsibility, a chance to have the ability to advance in their own professional careers and to achieve a sense of personal satisfaction knowing that they are considered by their employers and peers as equals.

Mainstream business must accept the fact that the key to conducting business with the Aboriginal population, be it either as consumers or as employees, is the ability to regard them as equals, to respect their cultural and ethnic differences, and to accommodate rather than assimilate their way of life.