Workforce Forward
Conference Agenda - June 3, 2021
Please note, all times show are in Mountain Daylight Time.
- 8:45 AM - 10:30 AM
- 10:45 AM - 12:15 PM
- 12:15 PM - 1:45 PM | Networking & Lunch
- 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM
- 3:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Blessings & Opening Remarks
- Starts: 8:45 AM
- Duration: 30 Minutes
Elder
Doreen Bergum
Métis Blessing
Elder

Elder Tom Snow
First Nations Blessing
Speaker

Dr. Patricia Makokis
Welcoming address
Speaker

Rod Miller
Welcoming address
Speaker

Hon. Minister Jason Copping
Welcoming address
Panel Discussion: The power to change
- Starts: 9:15 AM
- Duration: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
Canada’s workforce is evolving, and Indigenous Inclusion is happening! This is something to be celebrated. The speakers on this panel are change-makers within their organizations. They represent a broad range of industries. They join us to highlight that Indigenous Inclusion is possible and successfully being implemented across the country. Hear directly from them on how they have influenced change within their organisations and why Indigenous Inclusion in their workforce is not only a reality but has also changed their organisation for the better.
Annie Korver
Moderator
Annie Korver
Moderator, RISE Consulting
Speaker
Jadelyn Psutka
Jadelyn Psutka
Manager, Indigenous Enablement & Recruitment – KPMG Canada
Tim Laronde
Speaker

Tim Laronde
National Director, Indigenous Strategy – Chandos Construction
Scot Durward
Speaker

Scot Durward
Manager, Operations and Woodlands Human Resources – TOLKO Industries
Mary Point
Speaker

Mary Point
Manager Indigenous Relations, Vancouver Airport Authority
10:30 AM | 15 minute break
Choose 1 of 3 Workforce Workshops
- Starts: 10:45 PM
- Duration: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
- Level 1 Introductory
- Level 2 Intermediate
- Level 3 Advanced
Introduction to Treaty: Oral Understanding of Treaty
- Workshop 1
- Level 1
You should choose to attend Level 1 workshops if you are beginning your journey in Indigenous Relations and have little to no awareness of the History or culture of Indigenous Peoples.
Speaker

Dr Diana Steinhauer
Workshop & Speaker Details
This workshop presentation is predicated on Elders’ teachings of Treaty including the Nehiyaw/Cree world view (Day before Treaty), the spirit in making Treaty (Day of Treaty) and the day after Treaty – the relationship as it unfolded. The oral context of Nehiyaw and Anishinabe legal orders and doctrines represented by symbols on the land, waters and sky are encapsulated in this unique presentation to the Conference participants and guests.
Dr. Diana Steinhauer, Nehiyaw/Cree, of onihcikiskwapiwinhk in Treaty No. 6 Territory, is an educator with 30 years of experience in teaching, curriculum development, and administration in K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions. Most importantly, she is a mother and first teacher of her two children. She currently serves as the President of Yellowhead Tribal College. Diana completed her Doctorate in iyiniw pimātisiwin kiskeyitamowin (Indigenous Peoples Knowledge) at University n Blue Quills. She is particularly grateful to Elders and Knowledge Keepers who have guided and mentored her in the ancestral knowledge and ways of being as a kise iskwew. Recognizing the value and work of iyiniw pimātisiwin, Diana’s work as a change agent in language, education, and governance is grounded upon her late father’s adage, pimātisîtotetân kimiyikowisiwininaw, ‘Let us live life the way our Creator intended for us to live’.
Recruiting Fundamentals
- Workshop 1
- Level 2
You should choose to attend Level 2 workshops if you have a good understanding of Indigenous history and culture and you are beginning your hiring practices and community engagement.
Speaker

Amber Boyd, Spirit Omega
Workshop & Speaker Details
Learn about the considerations needed when creating an Indigenous recruitment strategy including the differences between urban and rural recruitment, interview preparation.
Amber holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a Human Resource Certificate from the University of Calgary. Having been responsible for finding talent, interviewing, hiring, and on-boarding at RBC Dominion Securities, Hard Knocks, MicroWatt Controls, and Ups & Downs, she understands the hiring challenges employers face. As a Métis woman and a natural storyteller, Amber has been a corporate trainer for over 17 years and is a number one Amazon best-selling author. Her fictional tales, Life’s Nectar and Forevermore, can be found in the anthology, Above and Beneath, and her short story, Howling at the Moon, is published as a stand-alone book. Amber is an active member of the Métis community and is dedicated to helping Indigenous peoples find meaningful employment through her work at Spirit Omega Staffing and Consulting.
Cultural Safety
Parallel Perspectives Addressing Intergenerational Trauma:
Moving from Chaos to Wellness
- Workshop 1
- Level 3
You should choose to attend level 3 workshops if you have a solid understanding of history and culture and you are already working with community and actively employing Indigenous peoples.
Speaker

Kerrie Moore, Quest Endeavors Inc.
Workshop & Speaker Details
Intergenerational trauma is a pervasive issue, challenging families and communities who have experienced multiple trauma and toxic stress. When individuals are in trauma their brain is in chaos limiting their ability to move to the thinking brain or pre-frontal cortex. This affects our ability to form relationships, emotionally regulate and to trust. Trauma is treatable at any point in an individual’s life. We will explore the epigenetic process or blood memory that is passed down through 7 generations. The memories and behaviors are also positive memories of healing, culture and resilience. This presentation will provide an awareness of how all of us can be affected by our environment not just our genetics. This presentation will address the parallel understanding of wellness and how we build relationships.
This workshop will provide:
- Cultural Awareness
- Core Brain science and intergenerational trauma understanding
- Parallel ways of healing and creating wellness
- A model for everyone to create balance and wellness in our own lives.
Elder Kerrie Moore MSW, RSW, Cree/Métis is originally from Saskatchewan. Kerrie is in private practice and specializes in inter-generational trauma and grief. She is also an adjunct professor with the Faculty of Social Work, University of Calgary. Kerrie provides consulting and training on Indigenizing Strategies to ministries, education, health, justice and agencies who work with Indigenous people and communities. Kerrie is an accepted knowledge keeper and sits on several Elder boards including the Elder Advisory Circle for the University of Calgary and the Calgary Board of Education. Kerrie does training and teaching on trauma and cultural healing for agencies and Indigenous families and individuals. Kerrie is a recipient of the Alumna of the Year Award 2008, from the University of Calgary, Women’s Resource Center.
10:30 AM | 15 minute break
90 minute lunch break
We are pleased to present virtual networking opportunities during the lunch break!
Panel Discussion: Meet your Community Partners!
- Starts: 1:45 PM
- Duration: 1 Hour 15 Minutes
This panel introduces you to employment and training experts. They give us insight into the reality versus expectations when it comes to attracting, recruiting and retaining an Indigenous workforce from a community perspective. Top tips on working directly with community and Indigenous people. These exceptional panelists speak from first-hand experience.

Moderator

Deborah Green
Deborah Green
Speaker

Kirsten Ryder
Kirsten Ryder
Lana Johnston
Speaker

Lana Johnson
Director, Maskwacis Employment Centre
Loriann Paul
Speaker

Loriann Paul
Employment & Labour Manager, Alexander First Nation
Krista Laboucane
Speaker

Krista Laboucane
Associate Director Employment & Training, Métis Nation British Columbia
3:00 PM | 15 minute break
Choose 1 of the 4 Workforce Workshops
- Starts: 3:15 PM
- Duration: 1 Hour 30 Minutes
- Level 1 Introductory
- Level 2 Intermediate
- Level 3 Advanced
- Level 3 Advanced
Cross Cultural Awareness - “All the Dirt on Working with First Nation People”
- Workshop 2
- Level 1
You should choose to attend Level 1 workshops if you are beginning your journey in Indigenous Relations and have little to no awareness of the History or culture of Indigenous Peoples.
Speaker

Winston McLean
Ironwolf Consulting
Workshop & Speaker Details
“It’s true, there are cultural differences which, if you are not aware, could impact the connections needed for mutual prosperity or just decent working relationships. This presentation is for mainstream professionals that want to know what they might expect in working with First Nation people. How do you navigate the protocols in striking up a partnership with a First Nation organization? What issues could arise on the front lines between First Nation and mainstream employees What to do if you are invited to a ceremony? These are just a few of the topics that Mr. McLean will touch on in this insightful and often humorous tour of First Nation terrain: All the Dirt on Working With First Nation People.”
Mr. McLean is from the James Smith Cree Nation. He is a fifth generation descendent of Treaty 6. After leaving the University of Saskatchewan with a B.A. in Philosophy, he joined the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN). While with the Federation he gained experience in lands and resources, international affairs, and economic development. He was a member of the team that negotiated the Saskatchewan Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement in 1992. Later, Winston was worked on the First Nation and Metis Justice Reform Commission in 2002 as their Director of Operations.
It was in connection with his work in land claims and in justice that Mr. McLean developed a profound respect for the building of bridges between mainstream and First Nation communities. Much of his work now is as a facilitator, working with corporate Canada and governments with aboriginal awareness training. But he also volunteers helping his First Nation deal with a major mining project that will have generational impacts.
Comprehensive Community Engagement
- Workshop 2
- Level 2
You should choose to attend Level 2 workshops if you have a good understanding of Indigenous history and culture and you are beginning your hiring practices and community engagement.
Speaker

Jamie Saulnier
Working Warriors
Workshop & Speaker Details
Understand from a cultural perspective the importance of relationship building. Learn successful practices and pitfalls to avoid when building relationships with community.
Mr. Saulnier is a successful entrepreneur and father who has a deep respect for First Nations People in North America and the lifestyle of being connected to the land. He has always believed in the betterment of community and living together in prosperity. Through Jamie’s experience working with industry as well as developing a close relationship with First Nations Communities, he inspired the idea to create a human resource database that produces an inventory of national skills that exist in the indigenous workforce and assets related to economic development. He has also participated in several round table discussions with Industry, Government and Aboriginal groups regarding labor shortages in Canada. By doing so, this database had grown to building better working relationships between nations and industry, heightening the experience in negotiations as well as successful employment and training.
Since 2015, Working Warriors has become a service provider that is nationally recognized for building the bridge between Industry and the First Nations workforce. This has reached the pages of the Globe and Mail, popular news broadcasting outlets in both radio, television, and journalisms alike alongside several trade magazines. As the proud founder of Working Warriors, Jamie looks forward to seeing the brighter future in growth, economic development and of course relationships.
Understanding Legal Rights and Responsibilities in the Workplace
- Workshop 2
- Level 3
You should choose to attend Level 3 workshops if you have a solid understanding of history and culture and you are already working with community and actively employing Indigenous peoples.
Speaker

Colleen Verville
MLT Aikins LLP
Workshop & Speaker Details
Just as our workforces change and evolve over time, so do the laws affecting how we manage those workforces. This presentation will assist employers and human resources professionals in understanding the changing landscape relating to legal rights, risks and responsibilities in the workplace. This session is designed to assist organizations that are Indigenous-owned and hire Indigenous employees develop effective workforce strategies and manage legal risk in areas including employment standards, employment contracts, human rights, workplace harassment and labour relations.
This session is presented by MLT Aikins LLP, a western Canadian law firm with expertise in the areas of employment, labour and Aboriginal law.
Indigenous Retention Beyond Employment Equity
- Workshop 2
- Level 3
You should choose to attend Level 3 workshops if you have a solid understanding of history and culture and you are already working with community and actively employing Indigenous peoples.
Speaker

Diane Carriere
D. Carriere & Associates
Workshop & Speaker Details
Are you recruiting and employing Indigenous people? Are you building an indigenous workforce? How do you go beyond the numbers and look at meaningful employment? How do you measure your success? In this workshop we will discuss how to ensure your workplace is providing career opportunities for employee engagement and develop a tool to track your success in a meaningful way.