The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has signed on to the Indigenous Engagement Charter, an initiative launched by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.
It is a three-year commitment. Members of the Battlefords Chamber participated in a ceremony in Saskatoon Tuesday hosted by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, to launch the Charter.
According to a Chamber release Wednesday from Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak, officials from the Battlefords Chamber joined in a pipe ceremony and participated in the ceremonies in Saskatoon. Among those providing remarks were Minister Lori Carr, Mayor Charlie Clark of Saskatoon and Steve McLellan of the Sask. Chamber.
The official signing followed with approximately 20 businesses and organizations of varying sizes taking part.
The charter document stems from the Calls to Action from the 2015 report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The intention is to fully engage Indigenous peoples in the economy of the province, with a goal to make Saskatchewan a “leader in enhancing the level of engagement with Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous-owned businesses and Indigenous communities.”
According to the Indigenous Engagement Charter document, the “charter mission is twofold, it serves as a roadmap to provide businesses with the tools to achieve engagement and assists the business community in demonstrating the role it must play in reconciliation.”
According to the document, Saskatchewan businesses signing the charter are committing to the following:
• Developing an internal Indigenous engagement strategy;
• Educating their workplace on Indigenous history and culture through training;
• Enhancing HR practices to attract, hire and retain more Indigenous workers;
• Implementing procurement practices, actions and partnerships;
• Reinforcing relationships and support Indigenous communities through community involvement; and
• Providing clear annual reporting of actions undertaken in the Indigenous Engagement Charter Program.
Charter signatories will also be provided with resources required to fulfill their engagement strategy including a directory of Indigenous-owned businesses to facilitate procurement and partnerships — hiring resources, training opportunities, assistance with Indigenous strategy and measurement and tracking tools to measure the business’s success and progress. Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000288 EndHTML:0000007188 StartFragment:0000002828 EndFragment:0000007152 SourceURL:file://localhost/Volumes/CompositionFiles/%20%20Pagination%20Copy/*Thursday%20edition/%20Copy/Chamber/Battlefords%20Chamber%20signs%20Indigenous%20Engagement%20Charter.doc
The Battlefords Chamber has formally signed on for three years to the Saskatchewan Chamber’s Indigenous Engagement Charter. Seen here are: back row - Chair Harris Sutherland, chamber member Terry Caldwell (who signed on behalf of his own business), Nick Crighton, director of Indigenous Engagement with the Sask. Chamber of Commerce; front row - chamber directors Warren Williams and Vivian Whitecalf, Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak and Steve McLellan, CEO of the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.
Linda Machniak and Terry Caldwell sign the document. Photos submitted
Battlefords Chamber signs Indigenous Engagement Charter
By John Cairns
Staff Reporter
The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has signed on to the Indigenous Engagement Charter, an initiative launched by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.
It is a three-year commitment. Members of the Battlefords Chamber participated in a ceremony in Saskatoon Tuesday hosted by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, to launch the Charter.
According to a Chamber release Wednesday from Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak, officials from the Battlefords Chamber joined in a pipe ceremony and participated in the ceremonies in Saskatoon. Among those providing remarks were Minister Lori Carr, Mayor Charlie Clark of Saskatoon and Steve McLellan of the Sask. Chamber.
The official signing followed with approximately 20 businesses and organizations of varying sizes taking part.
The charter document stems from the Calls to Action from the 2015 report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The intention is to fully engage Indigenous peoples in the economy of the province, with a goal to make Saskatchewan a “leader in enhancing the level of engagement with Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous-owned businesses and Indigenous communities.”
According to the Indigenous Engagement Charter document, the “charter mission is twofold, it serves as a roadmap to provide businesses with the tools to achieve engagement and assists the business community in demonstrating the role it must play in reconciliation.”
According to the document, Saskatchewan businesses signing the charter are committing to the following:
• Developing an internal Indigenous engagement strategy;
• Educating their workplace on Indigenous history and culture through training;
• Enhancing HR practices to attract, hire and retain more Indigenous workers;
• Implementing procurement practices, actions and partnerships;
• Reinforcing relationships and support Indigenous communities through community involvement; and
• Providing clear annual reporting of actions undertaken in the Indigenous Engagement Charter Program.
Charter signatories will also be provided with resources required to fulfill their engagement strategy including a directory of Indigenous-owned businesses to facilitate procurement and partnerships — hiring resources, training opportunities, assistance with Indigenous strategy and measurement and tracking tools to measure the business’s success and progress.
