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Humboldt Chamber to provide programming to increase awareness of Indigenous issues

HUMBOLDT — New training that will be provided by the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce aims to help businesses connect to a growing segment of the province’s population.
Humboldt Chamber web

HUMBOLDT — New training that will be provided by the Humboldt and District Chamber of Commerce aims to help businesses connect to a growing segment of the province’s population.

The chamber is working on some programs that will help awareness of the issues that are faced by Indigenous people, both for business and the general public.

Brent Fitzpatrick, the chamber’s executive director, said they’ve determined that many in Humboldt are not aware of Indigenous issues and reconciliation efforts, as there are not many First Nations reserves in the immediate area.

“We're going to then assist with that. We're going to be offering some online, very accessible programs that will allow people to just learn a little bit more about reconciliation.”

A facilitator has been hired to gather speakers for the training. The events will be recorded through Zoom and broadcasted on Facebook and YouTube. There will be no charge. A date is yet to be revealed.

The project is being done in partnership with the City of Humboldt’s cultural services department. It is funded with a $10,000 grant from the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s Training and Employment Network, which aims to support communities and companies to integrate Indigenous, immigrant, youth, and women workers into the local workforce.

Fitzpatrick said that part of the training will explain why it makes good business sense to be aware of Indigenous issues and incorporate a philosophy of reconciliation within business operations.

An Indigenous Engagement Employer Handbook produced by the City of Saskatoon and other community partners gives six reasons why engaging Indigenous people is key to remaining competitive:

  1. Indigenous people are a growing part of the province’s working age population;
  2. It’s an opportunity to grow one’s clientele;
  3. Many resource companies and public agencies look favourably at Indigenous engagement for those bidding for contracts;
  4. Partnerships and joint ventures with Indigenous-owned companies can be an easy way to help get access to labour and local knowledge, be competitive in bids, and reduce investment risk;
  5. It can increase attractiveness to future employees and clients; and
  6. It can help alleviate some of the concerns that governments or community organizations might have about a business’ plans.

Shelley Romanyszyn-Cross, Carlton Trail College’s president, said they are looking to increase Indigenous awareness within its coverage area.

“Reconciliation and Indigenous awareness is really important to us as a regional college because we do have a lot of strong relationships with several First Nation communities in our region,” she said. “We work to provide educational and career training opportunities for those communities.”

Romanyszyn-Cross said she’s really looking forward to continued discussions with the chamber and other stakeholders in the region to advance this work.

Fitzpatrick said he’s excited about the project.

“I think that solving problems begins with awareness and that this will go a long way towards that,” he said, adding that it’s just one of a series of innovative activities the chamber is planning this year.