Since the Aboriginal Human Resource Council (AHRC)was founded in 1998, hun­dreds of managers have expressed their need for strategies, training and tools that will improve Aboriginal recruitment, retention and advance­ment in their workplace.

As a result, the council has developed the Mastering Aboriginal Inclusion (MAI) program, a suite of training tools that includes six substantial workbooks, employee assess­ments, PowerPoint presentations, tip sheets and tutorials... all designed to improve an employer’s ability to attract top Aboriginal talent.

The workbooks centre on five core themes:

• the business case for inclusion
• the historic roots of exclusion
• intercultural sensitivity
• recruit­ment, retention, advancement
• partnering with communities.

The MAI program also includes the Inclusion Continuum—the seven stages of aboriginal inclusion—to help employers identify their progress toward a workplace of choice for top Aboriginal talent.

Through the MAI program, the council will con­tinue to develop new tools and training regimen over the next three years. Once beta tested and completed, it will be the most comprehensive program of Aboriginal recruitment, retention and advancement strategies, products and services available.  This unique approach to research and development of employer solu­tions is modeled after Fortune 500’ssuccess­ful efforts in the area of diversity.

Companies that wish to demonstrate their leadership in Aboriginal inclusion are encouraged to join our Networks of Change, a dedicated group of Canadian organizations committed to workplace diversity.