The government of N.W.T. reports that the majority of its recent Indigenous hires following the revamp of the affirmative action policy are local residents. The new Indigenous employment policy, initiated in April the previous year, classifies Indigenous individuals as stage one or stage two priority hires based on their ancestral ties to the region. Stage one priority hires encompass Indigenous applicants who are members or descendants of First Nations, Métis, or Inuit people from within the current boundaries of the Northwest Territories. On the other hand, stage two priority hires include Indigenous applicants from regions outside N.W.T.
Since the implementation of the policy, the territory has recruited nearly 1,000 individuals, with 226 identifying as stage one priority and 34 as stage two. In the last fiscal year, only 196 Indigenous workers were employed. Prior to the policy change, Indigenous representation in the territorial government was at a historic low despite comprising roughly half of the population, representing around 29% of the public service workforce.
In a recent announcement, the territory revealed an increase in Indigenous hiring post-policy revision, with Indigenous employment now exceeding 33%. However, concerns persist among some MLAs regarding whether N.W.T. Indigenous residents are truly benefiting from the policy. Despite the reported boost in hiring, Indigenous MLAs have expressed a lack of awareness of such progress within their communities.
MLA George Nerysoo from Mackenzie Delta echoes these sentiments, noting that constituents from Fort McPherson, including qualified university graduates, have not seen the desired benefits from the Indigenous employment program. Nerysoo has also received feedback from fellow government employees highlighting a perceived deficiency in Indigenous hiring.
Similarly, MLA Kieron Testart from Range Lake in Yellowknife has not observed constituents benefiting from the policy. Testart emphasizes concerns over the removal of prioritized hiring for non-Indigenous northerners, a feature offered by the former affirmative action policy. He stresses the necessity of reinstating this benefit and underscores the importance of enhancing educational opportunities for Indigenous individuals across the N.W.T.