Indigenous recruitment – Information for hiring managers
The Indigenous Centre of Expertise: here to support you!
This page provides information for federal public service hiring managers on Indigenous recruitment. We provide expertise and support on:
- Indigenous representation in the federal public service
- hiring Indigenous talent
- Inuksugait resume inventory
- creating tailored pools and inventories, including Indigenous Career Pathways (link available only on the Government of Canada network)
- building an inclusive and barrier-free staffing process to hire Indigenous candidates
- challenges and barriers to Indigenous employment
- liaising and building partnerships with Indigenous communities
- supporting Indigenous employees
We also provide information and support on:
- self-declaration, and the Affirmation of Aboriginal Affiliation Form
- Nunavut Agreement obligations related to hiring Inuit in Nunavut
For more information on these topics, please contact the Indigenous Centre of Expertise at: cfp.cea-icoe.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca .
Indigenous representation in the federal public service
For data on the representation (self-identification) of Indigenous people in the federal public service, please consult the latest report on employment equity in the federal public service.
Hiring Indigenous talent
Hire from the Government of Canada’s pools and inventories listed below; and don’t forget to select “Aboriginal peoples” in the employment equity section.
Ask your HR advisor about Indigenous hiring initiatives at your department or agency.
Inuksugait Resume Inventory
Are you looking to recruit Inuit to your organization? Access the Inuksugait Resume Inventory, an effective, culturally competent hiring tool, using this Application Request Form (link available only on the Government of Canada network).
For more information, please contact Pilimmaksaivik (Federal Centre of Excellence for Inuit Employment in Nunavut) at Pilimmaksaivik@cannor.gc.ca
Indigenous Career Pathways
Looking to hire Indigenous talent? Visit the Indigenous Career Pathways - Inventory of Indigenous Applicants to find eligible and available Indigenous students and graduates in diverse fields.
For more recruitment options, consult the Recruitment Options for Managers web page.
Graduate recruitment programs
- Post-Secondary Recruitment Campaign – Information for managers
- Select “Aboriginal person” in the “Employment equity” section of your request form.
- Recruitment of Policy Leaders – Information for managers
- Don’t forget to mention that you’re interested in hiring an Indigenous candidate by sending us an email at cfp.rlp-rpl.psc@cfp-psc.gc.ca
Student recruitment programs
- Select “Aboriginal person” in the “Employment equity” section of your request form
- When you reach out to a student, make sure your job opportunity stands out:
- match the work to the student’s interests and skill set
- highlight the benefits: for example, bridging opportunities, types of cultural resources available, a good onboarding package and competitive salary
- If you attend career fairs for Indigenous people, we’ve got you covered! Download and print our promotional one-pager on the Indigenous Student Employment Opportunity
- Indigenous students hired through the Indigenous Student Employment Opportunity are included in activities such as mentorship, networking and job application tips & tricks that provide support and resources during their work term. Complete this form to connect your student with program activities (link only available on the Government of Canada network).
- For more information, visit the Federal Student Work Experience Program page
- Consider hiring your student in the summer to minimize the impact on student education funding!
- Remind students that preference will be given to Indigenous students who self-declare
- Create an interesting job opportunity, and make your job opportunity stand out:
- highlight the benefits you have to offer
- explain what makes this job or team interesting
- show how your job opportunity matches the student’s interests and skills
- Once you’ve created your job ad, remember to share it with your chosen university’s Indigenous Centre; they can help reach out to your target audience
Research Affiliate Program - Information for hiring managers
- Apply your organization’s needs at the beginning of your process to give preference to Indigenous students
- Create a compelling job opportunity: make it stand out
- What makes this job or team interesting?
- How can you match the student’s interest and skills?
- What do you have to offer?
- Once your job opportunity is live, remember to share it with your Indigenous networks and Indigenous student centers at universities so they can help you reach members of the community.
Re-hiring students
If you’re looking to re-hire an Indigenous student, consult Indigenous Career Pathways – Inventory of Indigenous Applicants (links available only on the Government of Canada network) and Federal Student Work Experience Program: Information for managers.
Building an inclusive and barrier-free staffing process to hire Indigenous Peoples
Check out the Indigenous Recruitment Toolbox for useful information on establishing qualifications, advertisements, assessment, appointment and challenges/barriers to Indigenous employment (link available only on the Government of Canada network).
Challenges and barriers to Indigenous employment
To learn about the barriers to Indigenous employment in the context of Indigenous recruitment, visit Many Voices One Mind: a Pathway to Reconciliation.
Supporting Indigenous employees
Increase your cultural competence to hire and create an inviting workplace for Indigenous talent by building your skills and awareness of First Nations, Métis and Inuit through the Canada School of the Public Service’s Indigenous Learning Series. You can also consult Employment Equity – Leveraging Staffing Options for Hiring Managers and Hiring and supporting Indigenous employees to access resources (link available only on the Government of Canada network).
Useful links
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