b'INCLUSIVE PARTNERSHIPSEDUCATION ON INDIGENOUS ISSUES AND HISTORY KEY TO INCLUSIVE CONSTRUCTION BY RUSSELL HIXSON, JOURNAL OF COMMERCEW hen the bodies of 215 children were discovered at aintolerant people who believe that Indigenous people are handed former residential school in B.C. this year, it sent aneverything. That couldnt be further from the truth.emotional shock wave around the country. Deleary explained once the gap can be bridged between Indigenous For Danny Deleary, a community engagement co-ordinator forpeople and careers in trades, the results are transformative the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO), itforgenerations.was a grim reminder of how little the average Canadian knowsSuccess breeds success. When those young people see their friends about their countrys history and what Indigenous people havetaking these opportunities, buying boats, trucks, adding an extension gonethrough. onto their homes, it makes them want it and they start asking how to Many Canadians are shocked, dismayed and are feeling what weget it, said Deleary, who noted that ironworker unions have a rich have felt for decades now with regards to residential schools, saidhistory of accepting generations of Indigenous workers in the U.S. Deleary. It shows how unaware and uneducated Canadians inand Canada.general have been in regard to Indigenous issues. My great uncle was an ironworker who built in Detroit and Chicago, Deleary believes much of the intolerance, indifference andsaid Deleary. His success bred more success. Others saw that, and we assumptions around Indigenous workers in construction are duehave seen generations enter that workforce. We want to see that for to poor knowledge of Indigenous history and issues. all the trades. If we get people in the door now, we will see generation after generation entering.One major issue is decades of chronic underfunding for First Nations schools. And Indigenous people who live in cities areDale Swampy, Vice-President of the Aboriginal Skilled Workers often in poorer areas, which also have lower quality education.Association (ASWA), said the group is small but growing. The non-This has become a massive barrier to trades entry that cant beprofit helps skilled workers obtain employment contracts, become addressed unless it is understood by employers and unions. contractors, develop the capacity to bid on significant work projects and train more workers.Deleary said many unions have started to address this with pre- Since 2015, hes seen the number of self-identified Indigenous apprenticeship programs that provide academic training and jobworkers in the oil and gas sector grow from 12,000 to 14,000.skills to prepare aspiring Indigenous tradespeople.When the construction industry and sector becomes aware ofHe believes Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) the issues Indigenous people face, then they can address theirrequirements are key to advancing Indigenous people in the trades.intake process, said Deleary. We have never asked for standardsThe requirements by builders and contractors to be inclusive wasnt to be lowered. What we have asked for is an understanding andreally a requirement that won or lost bids, but now it is, said Swampy. appreciation of unique Indigenous barriers. We need to addressIf a contractor doesnt have a policy that conforms to ESG guidelines, those in different ways and be open to that. they will not get the contract. And that is what is important now. To address the lack of understanding, AABO has developedCompanies are now taking it seriously and not making excuses.an Indigenous awareness program, a one-day crash course inSwampy said he has heard many excuses for companies not hiring Indigenous history, politics, legal issues, barriers and more. Indigenous people, including that they dont show up for work, no From that we have seen the development of understanding andIndigenous people apply, they dont have the capacity to do contract awareness, said Deleary. We want them to understand whatwork or they dont have enough education.we go through as Indigenous people and be empathetic towardsThose excuses dont tread any water now, and those excuses are that. There is still a great need for education because we still faceunfounded, said Swampy.18THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SCAFFOLD INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF CANADA'