Why is this conference important for your company?

Saskatchewan is in a hiring crisis in almost every industry. Indigenous People are the fastest growing demographic and a large part of your future workforce.

🟠 Indigenous People are in demand and can move into any career we choose to pursue.

🟠 Your company must strategize how you will stand out so Indigenous People see the amazing things you are doing … and want to work with your company.

This conference will teach you how to be an Employer of Choice for Indigenous People. It will be an action-oriented day where you will learn and collaborate from others with the same goal to hire and retain an Indigenous workforce.

⭐ Indigenous Recruitment Conference of the Year ⭐

What are details?

• The event is being held Tuesday, June 17, 2025.

• The conference is at Hotel Saskatchewan in the Regency Ballroom (2nd floor).

Agenda:

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Registration

9:00 AM - 9:25 AM: Opening prayer and teaching with Elder Harry Francis.

Harry will teach us about Elder protocol including: What the role of an Elder is, When you would invite an Elder to your company/event, How to invite an Elder and he will talk about protocol for tobacco offerings. He will answer select questions that will be gathered from conference members beforehand.

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM: Opening remarks and welcome from our Exclusive sponsor.

9:45 AM - 10:10 AM: Successful Indigenous Recruitment Strategies with Innovation Federal Credit Union

Our Exclusive Conference Sponsor, Innovation Federal Credit Union, will talk about the Indigenous recruitment strategies they have developed that meet both their business needs and their TRC#92 objectives to Advance Reconciliation.

Jasmine Dreger, Senior Indigenous Relations Director, will teach us why they started their strategies, how they developed the strategies, metrics they use to measure impact and success stories. Innovation has been successful in developing northern recruitment strategies and will discuss the importance of genuinely showing up and creating relationships with Indigenous communities and Nations. This is a presentation you do not want to miss because you will walk away with many ideas to start or enhance your Indigenous recruitment strategies!

10:15 AM - 10:45 AM: Wellness and networking break

10:45 AM - 11:05 AM: Inaugural Indigenous Internship, Crown Career Pathways, with the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan

Our wellness sponsor, the Crown Investments Corporation of Saskatchewan (CIC) will teach us about the development and success of their Indigenous internship program: Crown Career Pathways (CCP). Wavell Starr, Director of Indigenous Relations, will talk about how the CCP provides a mechanism to bridge Indigenous graduates from eligible post-secondary institutes into employment with the Crown sector, provincial government or the private sector in Saskatchewan.

This initiative was developed in consideration of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action – specifically #92, which calls on the public sector to increase employment opportunities for Indigenous peoples. This will be great information for you to take away and use to build or enhance your Indigenous recruitment strategies.

11:10 AM - 11:55 AM: Indigenous Professionals’ Employment Panel

Many Indigenous Professionals are changing careers and want to work for companies that share their values. It important that Indigenous Professionals are doing work that is meaningful and impactful to them individually. Our panelists, Jada Yee, Ashten Brown and Reila Bird are experienced professionals who will talk about their career paths and what makes employers stand out from others. They will talk about what you can do to become an employer of choice and what is most important to them when choosing an employer. They will also answer live questions from conference members.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM: Extended lunch break and networking

This is your opportunity to enjoy a great meal while you meet and collaborate with employers who have shared goals to start and enhance their Indigenous HR strategies. You will gain valuable connections that you can network with after the conference. Bring lots of business cards!

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Cultural Teaching with the Mother Theresa Buffalo Boys

Many employers want to know more about what to expect when attending Indigenous cultural events like a Round Dance, Feast or Powwow. What is the significance of these events? Are we welcome to attend? What is the important role of the drum group and what do the songs mean? What are the different types of dancers we will experience? What do I do when I get to an event?

This will be a great after lunch event that will prepare and excite you to attend Indigenous ceremonies and events. The Mother Theresa Buffalo Boys will teach us about the history and important role of the drum, singers and dancers in a powerful and energetic performance!

There are many Indigenous summer events coming up and you will have a better understanding of Indigenous cultural events after today.

2:05 PM - 2:35 PM: Keynote Speaker Russ Mirasty

After celebrating five years as Saskatchewan's First Indigenous Lieutenant Governor, Russ will be speaking with us about his background, impressive career and the work he has done with Indigenous communities. Russ has held many high-ranking positions in his roles and is an inspiration to many Indigenous Youth and career seekers. He will talk about the importance of the work we are doing to advance Reconciliation for Indigenous People and how employers at the conference play an important role in this transformation.

2:40 PM - 3:25 PM: Indigenous Post-Secondary Student Panel

Indigenous post-secondary students are your future workforce and will have their choice of employers. They have taken initiative to dedicate their time to professional development that will enhance their career opportunities after graduation. Our panel of students will talk about their education journey and what made them choose their education and the industry they want to work in.

The students will discuss what is important for them to consider your company as a potential employer during and after graduation. They will also answer questions from conference members during this inspirational session.

3:30 PM- 3:50: Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC) Building Future STEM careers with Pinehouse Students

Our founding RAAN member, the Petroleum Technology Research Centre, will talk about a groundbreaking initiative that brought 24 Indigenous students from the Northern Village of Pinehouse, Saskatchewan to Regina. The students visited as part of a three day Energy Literacy Workshop hosted by PTRC and Pinehouse Power.

Brittney Musleh, Business Development Office at PTRC, will talk about how engaging youth early in career awareness is critical for their future education and employment. When companies create initiatives like this, it brings information and creates excitement for careers in a specific industry. This is a model that will help many employers build initiatives that will create career awareness and career opportunities for Indigenous youth and career seekers.

3:55 PM - 4:30 PM: Where To Go From Here

Brooks HR Group will wrap up the day discussing the work we do to bring Indigenous students and professionals and employers together for career opportunities. We will talk about the initiatives we created, will introduce our RAAN membership and highlight successes we have had through our strategies. This will give you direction on how to start or enhance your Indigenous HR, recruitment and retention strategies starting right after the conference!

4:30PM - 4:45 PM: Closing Remarks

We look forward to seeing you at the conference

Michelle & Jacey