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Topic | Ask yourself | Possible approach |
|---|---|---|
Disclosing Indigenous Identityidentity | What if I am asked to share my identity in an industry or organization that is not culturally sensitive? | There is no expectation for you to answer this question. Share only when/if you're comfortable. You can also decline. Add as much and as little of being Indigenous as you want. Both are valid forms of presenting yourself. We understand that these are not easy decisions. The Association for Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning BC/Yukon has a set of excellent resources. You may find the following resources on self-identifying useful: |
Your Values values and Needsneeds | Does the job description, industry and geographical location align with my values, needs, skills , and the impact I want to make on the world? | Choose an industry and organization where you see a value and needs alignment. This may help you flourish in your chosen career. |
Support Systemssystems | Do I have the support to prepare my job application documents in a way that leverages my lived experience, academic strengths and prior work or volunteer experience? | For University of Waterloo students, the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre | ShatitsirĂłtha' (WISC) is a great place to start. It is a safe space designed to encourage well-being. Searching and applying for jobs, finding a Workwork-integrated Learning learning (WIL) placement and building your career all require grounding, and we hope that you start from a place of strength. You can also contact Elder Myeengun Henry. He collaborates with the Office of Indigenous Relations and with the Faculty of Health community and identifies and contributes to building reciprocal and respectful relationships with Indigenous individuals and communities. Outside of the University of Waterloo, you can reach out to a job board organization, an Indigenous student support center or an Indigenous-focused employment center to seek support. |
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Type of experience | Questions to ask yourself | Transferable Skills Used (examples that could be used in a resume) | Value of skills in Resume |
|---|---|---|---|
Assisting an Elder in the community | What skills did I use while assisting? |
| Each one of these skills has value in the workplace. Make sure to let your employer know the work you did and the skills you have and how you used them in that work. Below The provided example is a generic statement and it can be personalized further by adding specifics of the task. A bullet point in your résumé could look like this: Communicated respectfully with supervisor/Elder to understand their needs to complete a task efficiently (this example includes your Indigenous connection. Feel free to keep it or remove it per your situation.) |
Pow wow volunteer | What skills did I use while volunteering? |
| All these are aspects of community care and excellent customer service. All these skills also have a lot of value in the workplace. A bullet point in your résumé could look like this: Created a plan to help various people find their way to the pow wow venue to ensure that they use their time effectively to enjoy events. (This example includes your Indigenous connection. Feel free to keep it or remove it per your situation) |
Work done in community/with a group of people | How did I get the work done with others? |
| All these qualities of working in a team, collaborating and applying principles of diversity, inclusion and respect can make all the difference in working together. A bullet point in your résumé could look like this: Adapted and learned about cultural differences to work collaboratively and delivered high-quality work in a team (This example does not include your Indigenous connection). |
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While talking about your Indigenous identity, roots and culture may be a way to show your knowledge, sharing or not sharing are both valid strategies depending on your context. The resources by the Association for Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning BC/Yukon, in the first table, offer a critical perspective on this topic.
We know that identity and connection to your Indigenous communities can be challenging. As a result of colonization, displacement and intergenerational trauma, many people and families have been disconnected. In some instances, connecting to community and family may not be possible. Only if you can do so safely, start to connect with your Indigenous community in ways that feel good to you. This could be through someone you know, attending community events , or even conversing with family and friends. This is an extremely personal and individual journey, and we recommend you to be mindful of the emotional burden and your needs. For the job samples aboveprevious, you can choose to show or not show engagement and connection to your Indigenous or chosen communities. If you do, it should be in ways that feel good for you. You could lean on community connections made at WISC and even consult Elder Henry Myeengun.
Translate your experiences for the workplace
Are you a volunteer for an Indigenous student group or community? How did you contribute to organizing cultural activities? Did you help mentor youth in your community? Did you help build a budget or fundraise for an event? These valuable experiences showcase your agility in understanding Indigenous values, teamwork and collaborations. They also showcase your leadership, event organizing and networking competencies.
Make bullet points impactful
Make sure you show the results achieved through a particular task or experience and why it mattered to your organization, person , or employer.
Do not assume that the employer will understand the impact of your actions and the methods you used to complete a task.
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Show your impact through storytelling
For jobs that celebrate and include Indigenous identities, we encourage you to weave your cultural heritage into the professional narrative of why there is a value alignment with the work, and why it is that you are a great fit for a role.
For all jobs, use storytelling methods to engage your employer by focusing on how your talents, skills , and experiences could help you achieve all responsibilities for the role.
Ask yourself if your Indigenous identity can bring strength in a role and in what ways?
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Job interviews can be daunting and nerve-wracking for many. Most corporate jobs are only beginning to understand Indigenous ways of being and are still more accepting of Eurocentric ideas of politeness, communication , and ways of being. Something to keep in mind is that the employer may not fully understand Indigenous ways unless people are interviewing you in an Indigenous organization. Considering these systemic challenges, some folks choose to code-switch/mask in their work environment.
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