Indigenous Engagement – Engaging a Digital Workforce! A New Model for Inclusion

Indigenous Engagement – Engaging a
Digital Workforce! A New Model for
Inclusion
Engaging a Digital Workforce! A New Model for Inclusion
Contributor-ITFC Team
Working from home- the new engine of economic growth!
Studies are showing that people who work from home work 1.4 more days a month
than that of the office worker! That should answer the age-old question companies

and the public sector have been asking for years? Can we support a work from
home environment?
Smart employers will and should!
The community based Indigenous Liaison Officer program offers Canadian
companies the opportunity to benefit from both relevant community insights an
enhanced work ethic within a productive environment.
On our network we have a phrase, “Google searches cannot compete with local
knowledge” and we mean it. There is a process of economic discovery that
community members can help with. The liaison officer position can provide
invaluable insights that will prepare businesses before they reach the leadership
level. Knowledge is “King”!
In a host of different categories Indigenous, (First Nations, Innu or Metis),
community members have an intimate knowledge of the barriers and challenges to
economic development. They also have a profound understanding of the needs,
wants and desires of a community that lead to economic opportunity. This
understanding may be a result of their participation on council, as a leader, an
economic development officer, a committee member, a portfolio manager or simply
someone who has been engaged in the discussion of how their community is going
to provide economic opportunity for their families.
So how can this help “Corporate Canada”?
To illustrate our point, we spoke with an owner of a print and embroidery shop. We
initially spoke of Indigenous economic inclusion and engagement, the Truth and
Reconciliation commission Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration of the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Almost immediately we could see the owner literally

stepping back, although showing signs of understanding the issue. We could tell he
was about to close the door on the conversation. What to do?
So, we took the conversation from the 30,000 feet level to about 6 feet, the
approximate distance we were standing apart from each other. I had asked more
direct questions. So, you deal with sports teams here in the Atlantic? Yes, the
the proprietor responded. You could see a renewed confidence and commitment to
the conversation in his speech and general demeaner. I went on to ask how he
collected his information, how he proved his designs and how he accepted
payment and shipped product to the customer. Not surprisingly his response was
“by computer” PayPal or Interac transfer!
I then went on to discuss the 700+ Indigenous communities and how sport was so
very important.
I asked if we could connect him with a portfolio manager of youth, sport or
recreation, someone with the potential to introduce or facilitate a new opportunity
for his business would he be interested? I never thought of that before? Of course,
I would be interested!
We went on to illustrate how the ITFC network allows businesses to seek out
qualified individuals all across Canada that could provide insight into potential
opportunities of relevance to their business interest! The process of economic
discovery!
By posting an opportunity, (a request for knowledge), companies big and small
regardless of their geographic location can seek the services of an individual for an
hour, a day a week! Our ability to provide insights within multiple categories and
communities provides an unprecedented level of engagement that will contribute to

the national economy in ways we have only begun to discover!
The Indigenous -Community Based -Digital Economy is an opportunity for all of
Canada to share in and grow together!