News Releases

The Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference is pleased to announce the following key note speakers at this year’s conference: The Honourable Dr. Lillian Dyck, award-winning physician Dr. Alika Lafontaine, Season 7 Amazing Race Winners Dr. James Makokis and Anthony Johnson, University of Alberta Associate Professor Dr. Sean Lessard and University of Winnipeg Assistant Professor Dr. Marc Kuly.

“We are honoured to have such a wonderfully diverse range of speakers at this year’s conference. Our theme this year is particularly meaningful – it is inspired by the late Elder Walter Linklater whose world view teaching of “being a good person and trying to live a good life” continues to guide people on a path to reconciliation,” said Elder Gilbert Kewistep and Indian residential school survivor.

Held on October 16 and 17, the Wîcihitowin (wee-chee-HEE’-toe-win) conference brings together leading experts, community and business leaders, elders and youth to discuss the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and address Indigenous engagement and inclusion issues. 

Early bird tickets are available from wicihitowin.ca until September 15 and include breakfast and lunch on both days. Groups of 10 are available at the early bird pricing.

The 2019 theme for the conference revolves around the number five because of its significant meaning in the lives of thousands of Indigenous people across Canada. It was at this age that many children were removed from their families and sent to live in Indian residential schools, as a way to assimilate Indigenous children into Euro-Canadian culture.

Now in its fifth year, the Wîcihitowin Indigenous Engagement Conference is commemorating these children and is demonstrating respect to the survivors of Indian residential schools, Indian day schools, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and the sixties scoop by recognizing that they were, and continue to be, seeds for change.

This conference is presented in partnership with the United Way of Saskatoon, Aboriginal Friendship Centres of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Health Authority, Johnson Shoyama Institute of Public Policy and the City of Saskatoon, and supported by community investors Nutrien, Saskatoon Community Foundation and Affinity Credit Union.

Wîcihitowin is Cree/Saulteaux for “helping each other” or “working together”, which is an important component of delivering enhanced programs and services.

The City of Saskatoon has recovered roughly $380 thousand in funds that earlier this month were directed to a fraudster’s bank account through a fraud scheme. The vast majority of the remainder of the stolen money remains frozen by court order.

“Recovery of these funds continues to be a top priority and we’re encouraged to have over a third of the stolen money returned this early in the process,” says Interim Chief Financial Officer Clae Hack.

City Manager Jeff Jorgenson has committed to keep the public updated on recovery progress and to provide a formal public report once recovery efforts come to a close.

The City continues to actively work on the recovery of funds with banking institutions, the Saskatoon Police Service and the legal team based in Toronto where most Canadian banks are headquartered.

On August 16, 2019, an Ontario Superior Court judge ordered the City funds to be frozen. The vast majority of the $1.04 million obtained in the fraud scheme has been identified, traced and locked down by the Court.

View related news releases on this matter on saskatoon.ca.

Today, the City, along with more than a dozen community partners made up of First Nation, Métis and non-Indigenous employers, employment, education and training institutions, business associations and community organizations, launched the Indigenous Engagement Employer Handbook. A resource for small and medium sized businesses, the Handbook aims to provide guidance and practical options for employers seeking to improve their Indigenous workforce recruitment and retention outcomes.

“Indigenous people are the fastest growing labour resource in our province. It only makes sense that we make the effort to engage in a meaningful way to ensure that we connect opportunities with Indigenous communities and people,” says Lisa Mooney, Nutrien Global Lead, Sustainability and Strategic Inclusion. “Nutrien has led the way in Indigenous engagement by going a step further in offering the Aboriginal Content Playbook. Tools like this, and the Indigenous Engagement Handbook offer resources and connections that remove barriers and support the successful outcomes of these valuable connections.”

The result of a series of workshops and consultations held in early 2019, the Handbook will serve as a valuable tool for companies looking to foster resiliency, enhance competitiveness and become an employer of choice for Saskatchewan’s Indigenous workforce.

“Businesses are at different stages in their Indigenous engagement process and will need distinct strategies and capacities to reach their goals,” says Gilles Dorval, Director of Indigenous Initiatives, City of Saskatoon. “While not every suggestion in this handbook will be relevant for every organization, we hope that many of the suggestions will resonate with most employers.”

“SREDA’s goal is to promote effective Indigenous economic development strategies to encourage and support economic inclusion and growth in the Saskatoon Region,” added Alex Fallon, CEO of the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority. “This handbook will serve as an important tool to help employers better engage with Indigenous employees and partners, to the benefit of the entire community.”

As new ideas and technologies change the way people do business, Indigenous people are connecting with these changes and looking for opportunities to participate and lead.

“Starting with Affinity was a life-changing, amazing experience. They helped me try to find what I needed to do. I went in there with no experience, I didn’t even know what type of behaviour I needed to get through. The HR Advisor at the time asked, ‘what types of resources do you need to help you’,” says Chantel Buffalo, Affinity Credit Union. “She was open and honest with me and talked with me lots. It was very helpful to have a support system to get me through training.”

The Handbook is made possible through the support of community investors Nutrien, Affinity Credit Union and the Saskatoon Community Foundation. For more information and to download a digital copy of the Indigenous Engagement Employer Handbook, visit www.sacap.ca.

The Indigenous Engagement Employer Handbook responds to Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action #92 calling on the corporate sector to engage in meaningful consultation and develop respectful relationships with Indigenous communities and businesses as well as provide equitable access to jobs, training and educational opportunities to Indigenous peoples.

The City of Saskatoon’s commitment to the TRC’s Calls to Action supports the City’s Corporate Strategic Goal of Quality of Life by identifying actions for supporting a diverse, resilient, and growing economy and enhancing well-being and participation of Indigenous peoples in our community.