Innovative approaches to increasing

Indigenous and Aboriginal Employment

across the world.

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Response
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One of our community members asked us to look into innovative policies

and approaches to increasing Indigenous and Aboriginal Employment
across the world. Our analysts have put together the following examples.

1. Category: Environment
Where: Canada
Program: ECO Canada has set up the BAEHR programan environmental sector job training
program for aboriginal communities. The initiative offers short-term, hands-on and culturally
sensitive training that is jobs focussed and nationally recognized. In conversation with the
community, ECO Canada designs bespoke training programs on site and in accordance with the
communitys needs, while also following Canadas National Occupational Standards. The BAEHR
program has received praise for its marriage of cultural history to practical jobs training.

2. Category: Various
Where: US
Program: The World Bank published a report entitled Economic Opportunities for Indigenous
Peoples in Latin America that looks at the interaction between different factors like income,
assets, access to education and health services to give a more holistic picture of the state of
indigenous populations in Latin America and the policies affecting them. The report finds that
land titling and access to basic services like running water and electricity have a significant
impact on productivity and diversification within indigenous communities. The report also finds
that Mexicos anti-poverty programOportunidadeshas been particularly effective at reducing
the education gap between indigenous and non-indigenous families. Oportunidades is a
conditional cash transfer program that disproportionately targets Mexicos indigenous
populationthe success of which has been illustrated by numerous impact evaluations.

3. Category: Mining
Where: Peru
Program: In the mountains of Peru, there have recently been a number of initiatives geared
towards training indigenous communities for jobs in the mining industry. The altitudes at which
these communities reside make agricultural work and farming very difficult, if not impossible.
Mining companies therefore offer a unique opportunity for these communities to thrive. By
virtue of a governmental decree to help employ indigenous Peruvians, these communities have
been able to reach agreements with mining companies that guarantee the companies provisional
goods and services in exchange for professional training and support for the operation of various
communal enterprises. These communal enterprises have in turn become responsible for
creating a thriving indigenous workforce within Perus mining industry.

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4. Category: Various
Where: US
Program: In 2014, the UN published a report that globally surveys Indigenous Peoples Access to
Decent Work and Social Protection. The report looks at issues like the migration of indigenous
populations forced by job seeking, the rights granted to these workers and the legal biases that
shape the opportunities they have access to (their position in relation to formal and informal
economies), gender differences, and so forth, across Africa, Latin America, Australia, New
Zealand, and Canada. The study highlights the importance of providing formal training as well as
extended rights for these peoples, as they are often shoehorned into subsisting upon informal
economies rife with exploitation. The chief recommendations revolve around obtaining better
data on these populations, further opening social dialogues with these communities, cracking
down on unacceptable and informal forms of work, as well as expanding social protections.

5. Category: Research and Development

Where: New Zealand
Program: New Zealands Ministry of Research, Science and Technology has launched what they
call Vision Mataurangaa mission to unlock the potential of Maori knowledge, resources and
people for the benefit of scientific and technological innovation. This initiative spans a number of
areas including private sector research and development, environmental and sustainability
policy, as well as improving health and social well-being. The program intends to address issues
faced by the Maori community exclusively, but also to leverage the crossover between the Maori
and more general issues for New Zealandersas in the case of environmental policy. Vision
Matauranga was established off the back of another program launched in 1984Hui Taumata
which, following a 20-year retrospective evaluation in 2005, proved to have made a considerable
impact in helping Maori communities make crucial entries into the fishing, forestry, and farming
industries.

If you have any questions about or suggestions for innovative approaches to extending job prospects
to indigenous and aboriginal communities, please get in touch by posting or commenting on this
post.

If you have any questions or suggestions for us, feel free to reach out to our community manager
Darius Lerup on the platform or by email at darius.lerup@apolitical.co