Indigenous Employee Retention Checklist
If you are experiencing a high turnover of Indigenous hires, then your recruitment efforts are working but your retention efforts are failing. This...
1 min read
When I joined Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. (ICT) last year, I was a determined Camosun College student pursuing a Business Administration General Management diploma, thanks to an Indspire bursary generously funded by Bob and Cindy Joseph. Bob is a past Camosun College graduate and Indigenous business leader who gave me a professional home at ICT where I could excel professionally and engage deeply with our Indigenous business community.
This year, my academic achievements and emerging leadership were further recognized when I received the Allen and Loreen Vanderkerkhove Family Foundation Award for Indigenous Business Leadership (IBL) Students at Camosun College. This award honours those of us who pair strong scholastic performance with meaningful engagement, and I’m incredibly proud to have demonstrated both through my work at ICT and my active participation on campus.
As I prepare to complete my diploma in December and transfer to Capilano University, I carry profound gratitude for ICT’s supportive environment, for Bob and Cindy Joseph’s belief in my potential, and for the Vanderkerkhove family’s commitment to Indigenous youth. Their collective generosity represents more than financial assistance, it embodies a shared vision of empowering tomorrow’s leaders.
Looking ahead, I hope my journey will inspire other businesses, both Indigenous and non‑Indigenous, to offer similar opportunities to more Indigenous students. I truly believe that by investing in education and professional development today, organizations can help build the next generation of Indigenous business professionals and community leaders.
If you’re starting an Indigenous employment initiative but aren’t sure where to begin, if you’re struggling to attract Indigenous applicants or retain them once they’re on board, or if you’d like to understand how to create an inclusive workplace that honors Indigenous cultures, I encourage you to explore ICT’s Indigenous Employment: Recruitment & Retention (IERR) course. It’s a comprehensive program designed to guide employers through culturally informed recruitment strategies, inclusive workplace practices, and effective retention plans that support long‑term career pathways for Indigenous talent.
Sincerely,
Aiden Adams
Is it a fact or a myth? Do you know?
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