GNWT Implements Indigenous Employment Plans to Increase Diversity and Representation

News Releases

Yellowknife — November 15, 2022

The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has released Indigenous Employment Plans (IEP) outlining how all departments and agencies will increase Indigenous representation and leadership in the territory’s public service.

Guided by the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework, IEPs include short, medium, and long-term goals and department-specific actions to increase, develop and maintain the number of Indigenous employees by:

  • addressing bias, racism, and discrimination throughout the staffing process, resulting in improved cultural competency in the public service;
  • encouraging and supporting Indigenous people to join and stay with the public service by fostering a culturally inclusive workplace that addresses bias, racism and discrimination, and that is free of harassment; and
  • improving retention of Indigenous employees through professional development and career progression.

Indigenous Employment Plans for all GNWT departments and agencies are publicly available on the Department of Finance website.

Quote(s)

“The GNWT is committed to increasing Indigenous representation in the public service with the goal of creating a government that is representative of the population it serves.  We will continue to embrace diversity, cultural competence, and inclusion, while taking proactive and tangible action to advance reconciliation and address discrimination and cultural bias in the public service and the territory.

-Caroline Wawzonek, Minister of Finance

Quick facts

  • The Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework and Action Plan empowers departments to recognize the importance of Indigenous perspectives within their policies, programs, and services by developing business practices that include recruitment and retention strategies and providing the tools to develop detailed implementation plans.
  • The Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Action Plan supports the Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework’s two main goals of increasing Indigenous representation and supporting Indigenous leadership opportunities.
  • The Indigenous Recruitment and Retention Framework is informed by engagement with internal and external partners, including GNWT subject matter experts in human resources and Indigenous Governments throughout the territory.

Related links

 

For media requests, please contact:

Todd Sasaki  

Manager, Public Affairs and Communications

Department of Finance

Government of the Northwest Territories

todd_sasaki@gov.nt.ca