Supporting Indigenous Employees in Canada: Considerations on Cultural Competency, Pipeline Building, and Supplier Diversity

There are many barriers to the success of potential and current Indigenous employees in a corporate environment. In Canada, compounding factors including reconciliation, the history of residential schools, attacks on the community, and risks of isolation from corporate cultures can negatively impact these employees. Many companies are asking “how can we recruit, support, develop, and retain Indigenous employees?” This toolkit provides information specific to Indigenous in Canada and historical considerations, cultural competency and skill building, icebreakers, creating a talent pipeline, improving supplier diversity initiatives, and how to engage with employee resource groups (ERGs).