Labrador - Aboriginal Human Resource Council

• Treat everyone the same, hears the same
information and this information is passed
on so you have to make sure that the
message is converted properly and it can’t
be left to interpretation as it could
cause problems.
• Business should not make assumptions (i.e.,
bereavement leave).
• Need a zero tolerance policy for racism,
sexual harassment, etc.
• One-Two, next steps:
– AHRDAs can provide wage subsidies to
business to hire Aboriginal clients (52
weeks maximum plus education).
– put AHRDA rule book on the side – think
outside of the box.
– AHRDAs help business with development
of cultural sensitization training.
Overcoming Barriers
What could be done differently to overcome these
barriers What advice do the AHRDAs have
for business
• More flexibility to meet the needs
of business.
• More cross-cultural training.
• More focus on work experience for
same – on-the-job training.
• Job training funding for businesses (i.e.,
excel training for specific job).
• Give them meaningful employment/
compensation.
• Two weeks on/two-weeks off schedule – it
takes time to adjust to the lifestyle.
• All levels within a company need to be
respectful of culture and language.
• Provide pre-apprenticeship training at high
school level.
• Rotational work schedule.
• Target younger people.
• More job sharing, collective efforts, 48 jobs
done by Grade 5.
• Improve the quality of education.
• Increase number of high school graduates.
• Interview skills;
– cross cultural awareness
– (i.e., quiet and shy).
• During turnaround, ensure that there is more
than two Innu left.
• The point was made that some skilled
people don’t come across well in interviews
because they are shy or because it is not
culturally appropriate to play up your own
abilities. Interview training would be useful
for these people.
COMMITMENTS
The following go-forward commitments were made
at the session:
• Iron Ore will travel to communities and
conduct job opportunity workshops.
• Silver Spruce Resources will meet with
Nunatsiavut Government – about possible
employment-mineral exploration.
• Innu-Sheshatshui will promote career
information centre.
• Mining information kits will be sent out to
groups shortly on best practices in mining.
• Labrador Friendship Centre will meet with
AHRDAs to fill a vacancy.
• Voisey’s Bay will meet with AHRDAs over
the next couple of months.
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