What will it take to support Indigenous innovation?

The future of work needs to look a whole lot different than the present of work for Indigenous people — because where we are today really doesn’t look so great. Too often conversations about the future of work focuses on Artificial Intelligence, automation, and machine learning (what’s the difference? I’m still not really sure) – ignoring both the present and the presence of Indigenous people. 

In case you’ve been living under a rock: Indigenous people are unemployed at a significantly higher rate than our non-Indigenous friends, relatives, and insert-something-other-than-coworkers. In parts of the country, like Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, the differences in unemployment rates are huge. For example, in January 2019 in my home province of Saskatchewan, the Indigenous unemployment rate was 10% higher than for non-Indigenous Saskatchewanians. Across the board, Indigenous people are underemployed and underpaid. In some of the fastest growing sectors like social impact or tech, Indigenous people are even worse off. A recent report by MaRS details that in the Toronto tech sector, Indigenous people make up only 0.4% of the workforce and earn over $20,000 less than their non-Indigenous counterparts. 

The reasons for these very different realities are well documented. Grandmother Google has all the answers, but as a start: removing us from our lands, attempting to disconnect us from our cultures, the residential school system, the 60s scoop, a broken justice system, underfunded education, and just plain old racism has meant that Indigenous people still don’t have a fair shot in this country. That’s not only something to feel bad about — it’s expensive, too. Having a job has major positive implications on one’s health and well-being, and the better the job, the better one’s health outcomes are. People who are unemployed are more likely to have lower health outcomes, and consequently rely on the healthcare system more often.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are plenty of opportunities for us to collectively build on what works, make progress, and continue to address these work inequities—especially in the social impact sector.

The Indigenous population is young and growing quickly. The average age of Indigenous people is 32, compared to 40 for non-Indigenous people, and we’re growing at about four times the rate of the non-Indigenous population. These demographics create a tremendous opportunity for social impact that can’t be missed. Indigenous people are already contributing significantly to the country’s economy; in Manitoba, for example, the Indigenous economy contributed $2.3 billion to the province’s economy. 

There is potential for significant growth within the Indigenous economy that will benefit Canada as a whole. Our own knowledge systems, leadership, and expertise continue to be critical to our way of life, while having much to offer others. Indigenous knowledge continues to save lives, innovate, and provide pathways forward. There are countless examples of Indigenous innovation in areas such as youth employment, mental health, housing, and food security.  

Indigenous people are on the frontlines resisting harmful resource extraction activities, pursuing sustainable alternatives, ensuring their territories are protected and that they get a fair share of the revenues. 

Failure on the part of government, social impact sector, and the private sector to build meaningful employment and innovation partnerships with Indigenous communities is a tremendous risk to the economy and a more equitable future. If we’re not careful, the future of work will look uncomfortably and unfortunately like the present of work: with this country continuing to miss out on the full potential of what Indigenous people have to offer. 

So where do go from here?

It’s a new year. Start by focusing on today. We need to recognize the inequities that exist in our current workforce, economy, and country, and to start tackling those issues now. The significant differences in employment rates, salaries, and education levels between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across all sectors, including in the social impact sector needs to be addressed. Obviously, we cannot ignore the evolving realities of how technology will impact work. Indigenous-led solutions, including training and employment initiatives, are shown to be more effective — so let’s find ways to fund them.

We need to ensure Indigenous kids across the country have access to culturally-grounded education that incorporates both the hard skills of STEM and the soft skills that we know will be critical to their success. 

Employers need to value different forms of knowledge, expertise, and ways of working. Let’s reconsider who we view and don’t view as leaders and experts. We need to see the value that Indigenous entrepreneurship, innovation, and business brings to this country, and how it helps expand the Indigenous economy. 

We should be conscious that the realities of today and tomorrow differ drastically between provinces and territories — urban, rural, and remote communities, and young and old. As Indigenous people, we need real options for the future, including employment and education options that allow us to stay in our communities (if we want to). We need post-secondary programs grounded in Indigenous knowledge and languages that are aligned with social and economic aspirations. We need social impact jobs that draw on our values, knowledge, and worldviews.

If we start building the future we want today — an inclusive and fair future where difference is valued — we might just have a future (of work) where our potential as Indigenous people can truly flourish, unhindered. 

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