The Government of Alberta is planning to spend $2.75 million to provide Indigenous training to all public service employees over the next three years.
The province announced the measure June 18. In a press release, it said the training involves a one-day course which will include experiential learning with Indigenous elders through sharing circles. Lessons will also include Indigenous histories, residential schools and contemporary issues.
Alberta Minister of Indigenous Relations Richard Feehan said in the press release learning about Indigenous experiences is important to building relationships with Indigenous peoples.
"Learning about historical and contemporary First Nation, Métis and Inuit experiences and perspectives is essential to building relationships, strengthening partnerships and better understanding and serving Indigenous peoples in the province," Feehan said.
Feehan added the training is an important step in the reconciliation process and also addresses one of the calls to action of the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
The government plans to provide Indigenous training for 27,500 employees over the next three years at $100 per employee, the June 18 press release said. All future employees will also receive the training.
Métis Settlements General Council president Gerald Cunningham said the training will help foster greater understanding.
"Knowledge is the bride of understanding and, in the Government of Alberta's announcement today, they have taken an important step forward in creating understanding of Indigenous culture and issues within the public service," Cunningham said in the June 18 press release.
The June 18 press release said the government engaged with a number of groups in 2017 to inform the Indigenous training through sessions in Lac La Biche, Edmonton, Calgary, Lethbridge, Peace River and Rocky Mountain House. Contributing groups included University of Alberta Indigenous scholars, individuals from Treaties 6, 7 and 8 territories, the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women and native friendship centre, amongst others.
The Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre was one of the organizations involved in the consultation for this Indigenous training. Its executive director Donna Webster said the training is an excellent idea.
"A lot of Canadians and Albertans do not know the history of Indigenous people in Alberta. It will be an opportunity to learn," Webster said in an interview, adding it is important for public service employees to have a greater understanding of Indigenous issues to better service Indigenous people.
Webster added she has seen people have struggles with accessing public services due to employees lacking understanding of Indigenous issues.
"There's frustration. There's also helplessness and all of that leads to social issues when they're not able to access those services or they feel discriminated against when they do," Webster said.
Charity Jardine of the Athabasca Native Friendship Centre said the Indigenous training is important to address the difficulty Indigenous people can experience trying to access public services.
"We are still seeing the difficulty that First Nations people have in accessing public services, whether that culminates in intimidation when entering some public spaces, dealing with confusing paperwork, having to pay unexplained or unexpected fees, or having to travel to meet various obligations," Jardine said in an email. "We of the Friendship Centre think that this move on the part of the Alberta government to inform and educate APS (Alberta Public Service) is a huge step in the right direction."
