Indigenous Employment Resources

Indigenous youth represent a large job seeking population in Calgary and businesses need to prepare their work environments so they can successfully hire and retain Indigenous employees. There are many resources available to support and assist business, in the hiring and job training of Indigenous youth, which range anywhere from job placement services to wage subsidy programs.

Both Community Futures and the Métis Nation of Alberta Zone III offer wage subsidy and summer student internship programs. These programs will subsidize an employee's wage for an initial time frame in partnership with the business. The goals of both programs are to increase a youth's job related work skills, in a specific industry, with the intent of employment (for the wage subsidy) at the end of the contract period. The Federal Government (Human Resource and Skills Development) has internship and subsidy programs available to assist business as well.

Community Futures
Some programs include wage subsidies, self-employment assistance, employment assistance services, labour market partnerships, summer career placements and individual funding for First Nations people administered through Aboriginal Futures Career and Training Centre (AFC&TC) in Calgary.

Métis Nation of Alberta Zone III
Some programs include wage subsidies, employment assistance services, labour market partnerships, and individual funding, for Métis people, administered through the Métis Employment Services Zone III office in Calgary.

There are two main Indigenous employment agencies in Calgary which are Aboriginal Futures Career and Training Centre (located in south Calgary by Chinook Mall) and Métis Employment Services Zone III (located in North East Calgary). Both agencies service Indigenous people and have Employment Counsellors, computers, resource areas, job postings and training programs. As well, there is an Indigenous Temp Agency in Calgary (for job seekers and employers) that places Indigenous people in temporary jobs in and around Calgary in various industries. Employers who are seeking Indigenous people to fill job positions, within their company, can contact Spirit Staffing (administration) and Fast Labour Solutions (labour and warehouse) and they will help you with your work force needs.

Spirit Staffing and Consulting Inc.
An Indigenousowned and operated employment placement agency committed to providing high quality employment services to Indigenous people in and around Calgary.

Aboriginal Futures Career and Training Centre
Assists and prepares Indigenous people in creating a career and job search action plan. They provide job placement and training services to Indigenous people in Calgary and employers can post jobs on their job board.

Métis Nation of Alberta Employment Services Zone III
This agency provides services to Métis people in Calgary which includes skills training and employment and career counselling assistance. Employers can post jobs on their job board.

There is a variety of training and education programs, that Indigenous youth access, in Calgary. This site highlights most of these programs Click here for more info. If you are an employer who is interested in providing a work experience or job shadow to an Indigenous youth, contact any of the programs highlighted in each section to explore partnership opportunities. The City of Calgary Youth Employment Centre provides services to Indigenous youth year round and are always looking for employers who are willing to host a work experience student or post jobs.

There are different avenues a business can follow when it comes to providing and increasing Indigenous awareness within their workforce. For example, Ripple Effects provides corporate training online and in a workshop format at cost. There are agencies and consultants in Calgary that provide aboriginal awareness workshops and will tailor their training to meet your workplace and industry needs. To find out who and what is available in Calgary, you can call any of the Indigenous employment agencies mentioned above and speak to a Job Developer there for contact information. Talk to other businesses and corporations, to learn from their best practices and experiences. The Federal Government has a national Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative (AWPI) which provides free consulting and awareness training to businesses around the country. AWPI has a provincial representative in each province.

Indigenous Awareness E-learning program (Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth)
This free course is designed to help you as an employer or supervisor of Indigenous employees understand the current social, economic, and political situation of Indigenous peoples and provide you with the tools to increase Indigenous employment and retention. This eLearning course can be taken at any time and modules taken in any order. The course participant simply needs to choose the module that seems most relevant to their needs. The content is fresh and designed with the Human Resources employer in mind.

Guiding Circles Facilitator Training
Join the expanding number of professionals that utilize Guiding Circles as a mainstay in their approach to the developmental process for careers for Aboriginal peoples.

The Youth Employment Centre would like to take this opportunity to appreciate and acknowledge that we are gathered on the ancestral and traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, made up of the Siksika, Piikani, Amskaapipiikani and Kainai First Nations; the Îethka Nakoda Wîcastabi First Nations, comprised of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations; and the Tsuut’ina First Nation. The city of Calgary is also homeland to the Métis Nation Battle River Territory – Nose Hill Métis Region 5 & Elbow River District 6. We acknowledge all Indigenous people who have made Calgary their home.

Connect with YEC

Indigenous Employment Resources

Is there financial assistance available for hiring Indigenous youth?

Are there Indigenous employment serving agencies in Calgary?

Are there Indigenous specific education and training programs available for Indigenous youth?

Are there any Indigenous Awareness training programs available for businesses to access in Calgary?

Links