The Inclusion Podium – Thought Leaders

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

8:45 - 9:00 am

Kelly J. Lendsay Bio
President and CEO, Aboriginal Human Resource Council

Inclusion Smoke Signals -- Generations of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people have been using the campfire as a means of communicating... spreading guiding signals to far-away places and creating intimate connections where stories from the past are shared and new conversations are ignited to spark friendships and visions that build hope and prosperity.

Even today, as the technology revolution continues to race through our every vein, as the means to "get" what we want online... there's still something very profoundly enlightening and wholesome about campfires, which build bonds that don't break.
We are building a campfire together. We are sending smoke signals online that guide us up the Inclusion Continuum. We will meet together around a campfire to help each other grow and build partnerships. We will share in the burning of sticks to build a strong Leadership Circle where partners create relationships that warm workplaces of inclusion across Canada and beyond.

So, whether through virtual means or wrapped in a blanket around burning logs, we will ignite change together -- locally, nationally and internationally.

9:00 - 9:25 am

Wab Kinew Bio
CBC Broadcaster and host of CBC's The 8th Fire

Playing with Fire -- Wab Kinew's address will speak to how the “8th Fire generation” can add value to existing businesses. In his CBC Television series “8th Fire”, Kinew profiled many inspiring Canadians who are bridging the gap between Aboriginal communities and their neighbours. As this generation graduates and enters the work force corporations face a unique set of challenges, perhaps the biggest of which is how to incorporate diversity in a way that isn’t just about filing quotas but instead adds a meaningful contribution to the corporation’s culture and business model. Drawing on both personal and professional experience, Kinew will give practical examples of how drawing Aboriginal people into organizations can change their corporate DNA in a way that creates competitive advantages.

9:25 - 10:15 am

Dr. Martin Brokenleg Bio

The Circle of Courage - For thousands of years, American Indian cultures nourished respectful and courageous children without employing punitive discipline. Now, recent youth development research is revealing the essential elements in raising confident, caring children. Drawing on his research with Drs. Larry Brendtro and Steve Van Bockern in their book, Reclaiming Youth at Risk, Dr. Martin Brokenleg presents "The Circle of Courage" which offers concrete strategies for creating environments in which all young people can grow and flourish.

12:45 - 1:30 pm

Shel Holtz, ABC, Bio
Principal, Holtz Communications + Technology

Social Media as an Inclusion Strategy - Building common support for the hiring and workplace integration of Aboriginal Peoples is a social activity. Welcome to the new world of social media in which organizations, in order to promote their goals, must market their content in order to spark conversations, then participate in those conversations with the right people. In this example-rich presentation, veteran communications expert Shel Holtz will explain why content marketing and social engagement are the paths to achieving your inclusion goals.

Recommended Read: Social Media Blog by Shel -- Less than half a percent of 28 million is still a lot

Thursday, May 3, 2012

9:45 - 10:00 am

Mayor Stephen Mandel Bio
City of Edmonton

Inclusion at Work in the City - In 2004 the city administration led by their Leadership Team, provided support and space for the Edmonton Urban Aboriginal Accord Initiative. The Aboriginal Relations Office was created in 2007 and works to make the connection between City of Edmonton staff and Urban Aboriginal community. Mayor Mandel will provide examples of inclusion at work within the City of Edmonton.

Sponsored by

10:30 - 11:30 am

John Ibbitson Bio
The Globe and Mail's Ottawa Bureau Chief

Influencing Change - Aboriginal people in Canada are confronted by new and powerful challenges, as Canada evolves rapidly from an Atlantic to a Pacific nation. Demographic shifts are reorienting the relationship between Aboriginal and other Canadians, as millions of new arrivals, mostly from Asia, reshape the politics of the land.

Economic forces that create labour shortages in some areas also render unskilled workers of little value in today’s job market. The Harper government is determined to smash the status quo in the field of education with a new First Nations Education Act, which will provide new funding, but also new standards of accountability for schools on reserve.

The challenge for First Nations leaders is stark: continue promoting a status quo of grievance and rights-based claims, or adapt to emerging realities, so that the next generation of Aboriginal youth are equipped to exploit the opportunities and cope with the demands of the New Canada.