Workforce Forward

Conference Agenda - June 3, 2021

Please note, all times show are in Mountain Daylight Time.

Blessings & Opening Remarks

Elder

Doreen Bergum

Métis Blessing

Elder

Elder Tom Snow

Elder Tom Snow

First Nations Blessing

Speaker

Patricia Makokis Workforce Forward

Dr. Patricia Makokis

Welcoming address

Speaker

Rod Miller Workforce Forward

Rod Miller

Welcoming address

Speaker

Untitled design (6)

Hon. Minister Jason Copping

Welcoming address

Panel Discussion: The power to change

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

Inspired by reconciliation in Canada and her own Metis ancestry, Annie founded her company Rise Consulting Ltd. (‘Rise”) in 2013 to advance reconciliation and Indigenous inclusion with a focus on economic development.

Moderator

Annie Korver

Moderator, RISE Consulting

Speaker

Jadelyn Psutka

Jadelyn Psutka

Her role at KPMG incorporates the Talent Attraction team, Enterprise Inclusion & Diversity and the Partners to create equity in the recruitment process, increase representation and bring Indigenous perspectives to the core of the organization.

Manager, Indigenous Enablement & Recruitment – KPMG Canada

Tim Laronde

As a member of the Nipissing First Nation, Tim has worked in the business services industry for more than 25 years. He has experience in business development, negotiation strategies and building capacity with the Indigenous community and Indigenous associations.

Speaker

Tim Laronde

National Director, Indigenous Strategy – Chandos Construction

Scot Durward

Scot's work is focused on engaging Tolko’s workforce and communities across BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan. This includes more than 80 Indigenous communities. Scot is responsible for moving Tolko’s Indigenous People HR Strategy forward.

Speaker

Scot Durward

Manager, Operations and Woodlands Human Resources – TOLKO Industries

Mary Point

Mary helps to further develop the relationship between Musqueam and YVR, facilitating the elements of this agreement and exploring new joint business opportunities; as well as developing a global Indigenous peoples strategy.

Speaker

Mary Point

Manager Indigenous Relations, Vancouver Airport Authority

10:30 AM | 15 minute break

Choose 1 of 3 Workforce Workshops

Introduction to Treaty: Oral Understanding of Treaty

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

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

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!

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 Workforce Forward

Deborah Green

Deborah Green

Deborah has 20 years’ experience in Diversity and Indigenous employment solutions. Her expertise is in community and relationship building, HR Initiatives, Strategy Framework & Policy, and training.
Indigenous Workforce Development Advisor, Suncor Energy

Speaker

Kirsten Ryder

Kirsten Ryder

As the Director of Training and Development at Stoney Tribal Administration, Kirsten creates and enhances training programs, researches labour market, and performs various other tasks. Her hopes are for indigenous people to see and grasp their potential, through education and training.
Director Training & Development, Stoney Tribal Administration

Lana Johnston

Lana’s career has been focused in non-profit management with many of those years working for Maskwacis organizations. Lana is currently a member of the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and in addition welcomes her new Leadership Council role with Workforce Forward.

Speaker

Lana Johnson

Director, Maskwacis Employment Centre

Loriann Paul

Loriann has vast experience managing, planning, and facilitating community-building strategies, projects, and programs in various leadership capacities including her current day-to-day responsibilities as the Director of Employment and Labour Services at the Alexander First Nation.

Speaker

Loriann Paul

Employment & Labour Manager, Alexander First Nation 

Krista Laboucane

Recently joined MNBC as Associate Director, Ministry of Training, Employment and Education. During the past 20 years Krista has been working in Indigenous Relations and Employment, working with Indigenous Communities, Industry and multiple levels of Governance.

Speaker

Krista Laboucane

Associate Director Employment & Training, Métis Nation British Columbia

3:00 PM | 15 minute break

Choose 1 of the 4 Workforce Workshops

Cross Cultural Awareness - “All the Dirt on Working with First Nation People”

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

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

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

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. 

10:30 AM | 15 minute break

Thank you joining us!

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