The Province of Manitoba has among the highest percentage of Aboriginal people in Canada who continue to measure poorly on several social and economic indicators when compared with non-Aboriginal people. It is a much younger population and growing very quickly. While the Aboriginal population in Manitoba grows, their participation in the labour market continues to lag far behind that of the non-Aboriginal population. The majority will access education and employment without great difficulty— highly educated and skilled Aboriginal people are in very high demand.  However, the legacy of colonization and continued systemic racism has left a host of barriers to reaching their full potential. Improving labour market outcomes will require that we rethink existing interventions and close existing gaps.

There are many organizations providing training opportunities for Aboriginal people wanting to enter the labour market, however supports beyond training are minimal. Successfully transitioning trainees into employment has been described by one Indigenous educator as “the next pressing issue” that policy makers, educators, trainers and communities must grapple with.  This article describes the gaps that have been identified and explores a solution proposed by those who provide training to Aboriginal people and the people who aim to hire them. Why have governments been hesitant to take the necessary steps to address this critical gap and how might this be resolved?

Human development; Social protection; Local development; Aboriginal people; Winnipeg