Advancing reconciliation through economic development will be the central theme to a conference in Regina in March.
The Cowessess First Nation, the File Hills Qu’Appelle Tribal Council, Regina and the business community will examine the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action 92
“We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources.”
Included in this prosperity is to look at closing the unemployment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
“The unemployment rate for non-Indigenous people is 5.4 percent. The unemployment rate for Indigenous people is 14.5 percent. That’s the work we have to do. Ideally the goals we have as an organization is to get to the same rates. So, if the non-Indigenous unemployment rate is 5.4 percent that’s our goal,” said John Hopkins, Chief Executive Officer, Regina & District Chamber of Commerce.
“The Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action is a map to ensure our community gets stronger one day at a time. Reconciliation happens when there is no gap in the corporate sector frameworks, standards, policies and activities involving Indigenous people. This conference will provide examples of how to reduce the gap,” stated Chief Cadmus Delorme, Cowessess First Nation.
The Connection to Reconciliation Conference will take place March 19 and 20.