In the spirit of National Indigenous Peoples Day, let’s bridge the gap in outreach strategies! While there are many resources on general diversity sourcing, information specifically geared toward Indigenous communities can be harder to find. This article delves into methods for expanding your outreach to include these communities. By incorporating these approaches, you can build a stronger and more inclusive talent pool.
Beware of my long Disclaimer, but here are some important points I need to mention:
- I don’t come from an Indigenous background.
- This article aims to provide some methods for potentially identifying Indigenous people through publicly available and self-reported data to expand diversity outreach. It is important to understand that these methods cannot confirm Indigenous identity
- This article provides practical, short-term tactics to help you diversify your outreach efforts. It doesn’t cover long-term community partnerships as I don’t have hands-on experience in that area
- Last but not least: Before reaching out to Indigenous communities, please consult with your organization’s Indigenous employee resource groups for guidance or external Indigenous consultants. A rule of thumb: Ask, don’t assume.
- Before we dive in, let’s take a quick look at some essential definitions.
Indigenous Peoples
In Canada, the term “Indigenous peoples” encompasses the original inhabitants of North America and their descendants [Government of Canada]. According to the 2021 Census, more than 1.8 million people in Canada (5% of Canada’s total population) identify as Indigenous.
Canada’s Indigenous population comprises three distinct groups: Inuit, Métis, and First Nations.
The Inuit call the vast Arctic region, encompassing much of the land, water, and ice, their homeland – Inuit Nunangat.
Métis people are of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry. Their communities are concentrated in the Prairie provinces and Ontario, but can be found throughout Canada.
First Nations peoples were the original inhabitants of the land that now forms Canada. Their traditional territories span the southern regions, excluding the Arctic.
❗It’s important to remember that “Indigenous peoples” is a broad term – each group has its unique rich history, language, cultural practices, and spiritual beliefs.
In Canada, Indigenous peoples traditionally lived in six cultural areas: Subarctic, Arctic, Eastern Woodlands, Plains, Plateau, and Northwest Coast [Canadian Encyclopedia]. Be cognizant of the fact that these cultural areas aren’t confined by provincial and territorial borders.
Here is my pick of what else you can do apart from regular postings:
1. Indigenous Job Boards
Expand your reach through the job boards dedicated to the Indigenous Peoples, for example:
- Indigenous Link
- Indigenous Job Board Canada
- Indigenous Careers
- Aboriginal Job Board
- Indigenous Professionals
- First Nations Job
- Indigi Connect
- Miziwebiik
2. Search by Language
These languages have faced significant challenges due to colonization and residential schools, which disrupted traditional language transmission. Despite these obstacles, Indigenous languages endure and offer valuable insights into history, culture, and identity.
Drawing on information from the Canadian Encyclopedia, here are the Indigenous language families:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-dWkfWX-NvL-TZCSiTBd-_ZV4_bpUC3OyhWThndE2c8/edit?usp=sharingUse an OR statement to search for languages in your LinkedIn or Google searches: “Anishinaabemowin OR Ojibwe OR Mi’kmaq OR Cree” (add more as you go)
☝️ Remember, languages have many forms! Don’t disregard languages written in different writing systems, like ᓀᐦᐃᔭᐍᐏᐣ (Syllabic Cree). Yes, not everything in this world is written in Latin letters🙂
🚩 Be mindful of false positives: people who work for Indigenous organizations or who have Land Acknowledgement statements on their profiles
3. Explore Scholarships and Awards for Indigenous Peoples:
- Research scholarships and awards specifically offered to Indigenous Peoples in your industry. These programs often list past recipients or nominees on their websites
- Use this information to connect with potential candidates through professional online platforms like LinkedIn
4. Alumni of Indigenous schools/colleges
Check out schools/colleges serving Indigenous communities – a valuable resource for outreach and partnership opportunities.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16Jf5QSqwCAeuQM8Cn9rrprpBoAFPNLCJqOx6l1hZX0E/edit?usp=sharingThis list highlights some of the institutions serving Indigenous communities across Canada. It’s not exhaustive, so please feel free to share additional schools in the comments below! This will create a valuable and ever-growing resource for everyone.
5. Tune into Indigenous online communities:
- Explore social media platforms used by Indigenous communities. Look for content tagged with hashtags like #IndigenousTikTok, #indigenous, #nativetiktok, or specific tribal or language hashtags (e.g., #Inuvialuit).
- Gain insights from experience sharing: For example, explore the Government of Canada’s website for Indigenous job seekers. This resource often features stories and experiences shared by Indigenous professionals
- Engage with Indigenous platforms: Explore podcasts geared towards Indigenous audiences or online communities for learning Indigenous languages.
This list isn’t exhaustive, as opportunities vary based on your industry and roles.
There’s no single magic solution or effortless way to discover Indigenous Peoples. However, I never promised that (check the disclaimer :). What I can assure you is that by engaging with Indigenous Communities and exploring content created by Indigenous Peoples, you’ll discover a whole new world.
