Conference focuses on Aboriginal employment

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Aboriginal employment was on the agenda at the Travelodge Hotel in Saskatoon from May 30 to June 2 as the Inter-Provincial Association on Native Employment (IANE) held its 30th annual conference.

Bringing together industry, government, unions and the Native community, IANE works to promote employment opportunities for Aboriginal people.

The conference coincided with the June 1 release of a study by Statistics Canada the showed that Aboriginal people in Saskatchewan still lag far behind the general population when it comes to employment rates.

According to the 2005 statistics contained in the study, the employment rate for Aboriginal people living off reserve in Saskatchewan was 52 per cent, compared to 64.6 per cent for the rest of the province.

Conference attendees rolled up their sleeves to take a good, hard look at the root of the problem. Issues such as breaking down barriers for Aboriginal employment, achieving a representative workforce, union culture versus Aboriginal culture and Walk a Mile in My Moccasins workshops all helped to dispel stereotypes for employers looking to hire Aboriginal people.

Lester Lafond, past-president of the Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, was one of four keynote speakers during the conference.

Lafond was instrumental in helping his band create a business plan for the future that would help Muskeg Lake become economically independent. The band laid out its business plan in 1984 after the treaty land entitlement settlement came through. At that time, the plan centered on economic diversification and stability.

It has taken Muskeg Lake more than 20 years to achieve its goals and see its dreams come to fruition, but some people still see it as an overnight success.

"We're pointed to as 'Those lucky guys', but it took years of planning," said Lafond during his speech on June 1. Using gentle humour along with a well-laid out presentation, Lafond communicated his personal philosophy for success in business.

"First Nations governments must be responsible, must provide leadership," he said emphatically. "If we don't provide solutions, statistics will bury us."

Lafond's answer to employment issues among Indigenous people is less about dismissing misunderstandings and more about helping Aboriginal people succeed in business so they can in turn hire more Aboriginal staff.

The whole point of extending Muskeg Lake to include an urban reserve was to develop employment opportunities. And building a future through more jobs was essential, noted Lafond, because of an increasing First Nation population and a 'high concentration of employers' in Saskatchewan.

Muskeg Lake?s urban reserve is the first in Canada to be slated for purely commercial purposes. It is zoned for an industrial park and contains many First Nations businesses, including Peace Hills Trust and CreeWay Gas.

In addition to making economic development a priority, Lafond also focuses his attentions on providing opportunities for the youth of his community. He knows that education is an all-important factor if Aboriginal youth are to enjoy a secure future. "We must provide and foster educational training," he said.