The Northwest Territories government reports that the majority of newly hired Indigenous individuals following the revamp of their affirmative action policy are locals. The updated Indigenous employment policy, implemented in April last year, categorizes Indigenous candidates as stage one or stage two priority hires based on their ancestral ties to the region.
Stage one priority includes Indigenous applicants who are members or descendants of First Nations, Métis, or Inuit communities within the current boundaries of the Northwest Territories. Stage two priority comprises Indigenous candidates from regions outside the N.W.T. in Canada.
Since the policy’s inception, nearly 1,000 individuals have been hired, with 226 identified as stage one priority and 34 as stage two. In the previous fiscal year, only 196 Indigenous workers were employed. Prior to the policy change, Indigenous representation in the territorial government was at its lowest recorded level, with Indigenous individuals comprising approximately 29% of the public service workforce despite constituting half of the territory’s population.
In a recent update, the Northwest Territories disclosed a surge in Indigenous hiring post-policy amendment, with the Indigenous employment rate now exceeding 33%. Nonetheless, concerns persist among some Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) regarding the policy’s impact on local Indigenous communities.
MLA George Nerysoo from Mackenzie Delta expressed that despite the program, he has not observed any tangible benefits for constituents in Fort McPherson who possess relevant qualifications. Similar sentiments were echoed by workers within the territorial government, indicating a perceived deficiency in Indigenous recruitment.
MLA Kieron Testart from Range Lake in Yellowknife also noted a lack of direct benefits for his constituents under the new policy. Additionally, concerns were raised about the removal of priority hiring for non-Indigenous residents, a feature previously provided by the affirmative action policy.
Testart emphasized the necessity of reinstating this benefit and highlighted the importance of enhancing educational accessibility for Indigenous individuals across the Northwest Territories to foster long-term solutions for increasing Indigenous employment opportunities.