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   Did You Know? Section 35 of The Constitution Act, 1982 defines Aboriginal people as Indian, Inuit, and Métis. Aboriginal Employment Development Program Aboriginal Employment Development Program - AccomplishmentsExamples of AEDP Partner Accomplishments in 2005-06The AEDP Program and its Aboriginal Representative Workforce Strategy work to prepare the workplace in a variety of ways for the inclusion of Aboriginal people. For this reason, it is recognized that qualitative results are equally important as quantitative results. The Aboriginal Representative Workforce Strategy is not a short-term solution, but a long-term approach to achieving beneficial results for all parties. Seven new partnerships were signed in the 2005-06 fiscal year, bringing the total partnership agreements to 70 across Saskatchewan. First Nations and Métis Relations (FNMR) recognizes that these significant accomplishments are due in large part to the dedication and hard work of AEDP partners and stakeholder organizations. Over time some AEDP partners have amalgamated to become larger entities and can be categorized as follows:
The Canadian Union of Public EmployeesThe Canadian Union of Public Employees – Saskatchewan Region worked with employers to propose and implement enhancements for Aboriginal people into the collective agreements with the University of Saskatchewan and the Saskatoon Public School Board; both of which are AEDP partners. FNMR recognizes the critical importance of unions being involved in assisting workplaces to become fair and welcoming environments for Aboriginal people. Misconception TrainingMisconception training in workplaces continues to address the myths and misinformation about Aboriginal people. AEDP partners in the health sector are recognized as leaders in this area. The Saskatchewan Association of Health Organizations (SAHO) reports that 17,386 staff in the health sector received misconception training. For 2005-06, this represents a 79% increase over the previous fiscal year in the number of health sector staff receiving misconception training. PARWC ConferenceThe Provincial Aboriginal Representative Workforce Council (PARWC), which brings together over sixty AEDP partners and stakeholders, held its second conference "Opportunities Work, Connecting Communities," in October 2005. Conference hosts included the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) Aboriginal Workplace Participation Initiative (AWPI), the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce and the Saskatchewan Labour Force Development Board. Conference objectives included presenting a cost analysis to illustrate the importance of Aboriginal employment to Canada; to promote understanding of how to connect labour supply and demand for the workforce participation of all Canadian citizens; and to provide leadership on how to prepare workplaces, communities and future business owners for the integration of Aboriginal people in the workforce. Approximately 300 participants attended, including representatives from the business, labour, education and training, government sectors and Aboriginal communities. Also among the participants were close to 100 Aboriginal youth and their chaperones and 51 presenters and facilitators. Training SeminarsFNMR facilitated numerous in-service training seminars on the "See Your Choices, Choose Your Path" Aboriginal Career Development Kit. Training seminars were delivered to First Nations Tribal Councils, educational councilors, school representatives, Aboriginal training institutions and community-based organizations. In total, five-hundred kits were produced and distributed across the province. Partnerships with Urban MunicipalitiesThe City of North Battleford signed an AEDP partnership agreement on June 20, 2005. This is the first AEDP partnership with an urban municipality and it builds on the partnership with the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association. Urban municipalities represent a significant opportunity for Aboriginal employment development and to further engage organized labour through partners such as the Canadian Union of Public Employees. EvaluationsAEDP and the Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative (AWPI) of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) decided to work together on an evaluation of AEDP in 2004, and together they are interested in evaluating the progress that is being made. Using a partnership driven process, the Aboriginal Employment Development Program Evaluation Steering Committee, composed of partners and stakeholders, was established to oversee the activities of this evaluation. The information gathered will provide the background for recommendations to improve the progress of the AEDP partnership processes and assist our partners in their efforts towards achieving an Aboriginal representative workforce. The information from the evaluation, including recommendations, will be organized into a report to be shared with our partners, including the PARWC and the public. Setting the StandardThe Training System Review Panel, in its final report to the Minister of Learning, recommended that AEDP and the Aboriginal Representative Workforce Strategy should become the standard in all major workplaces in Saskatchewan. Also, the Commission on Improving Work Opportunities for Saskatchewan Residents recognized AEDP as a best practice in its report to the Minister of Labour. "Working Together: Saskatchewan's Health Workforce Action Plan" was unveiled in December 2005 by Saskatchewan Health. This document articulates a plan to strengthen health human resource planning in the province. The goals and objectives of this plan include recognition of the Aboriginal Representative Workforce Strategy and having Aboriginal people fully participating in the health sector and in all occupations. Lastly, the Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy completed a study entitled, "Economic Benefits of Increased Aboriginal Employment." This study suggested that Saskatchewan Community Resources, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, and the corrections and justice systems would have a combined potential costs savings of $501 million annually if Saskatchewan created an Aboriginal representative workforce. |
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