June is National Indigenous History Month, providing us with an opportunity to to raise awareness, educate people, and encourage reflection. Encepta believes that reconciliation requires an ongoing commitment, and that we must work together to recognize our history as Canadians and the contributions of our First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities.
‍‍

Encepta is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, regardless of their identification with any of the groups within the Human Rights Code. Encepta is committed to strengthening the diversity and inclusion on our teams through hiring individuals within the BIPOC communities and making informed business decisions guided by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. 

‍

Truth and Reconciliation

Encepta heeds the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, and adopts the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous Peoples and their lands and resources. 

‍

Territory Acknowledgement

Encepta acknowledges that its headquarters are based in Burnaby where we are situated on the unceded homelands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ (Halkomelem) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) speaking peoples.

Additionally, our company is working to adopt and leverage a central resource to guide its Territorial Acknowledgements ensuring accuracy of its references in external meetings, such as Business Development Conferences, Company Hosted Events and Presentations, and also in our Designs, as a useful tool for spreading awareness and appreciation throughout our supply chain.

‍Our Initiatives

Listed below are some of Encepta’s Initiatives to commit to reconciliation year-round. 

Diversify Supply Chain (92)i

• Welcoming Indigenous-owned businesses in our operations and supply chain whenever possible to make our supply chain accessible to Indigenous Peoples.
• Seeking clarification regarding our vendors’ commitment to Truth and Reconciliation.

Commitment to Hire more Indigenous Talent (92)ii

• Engaging with Indigenous Staffing organizations to share job postings to assist with attracting Indigenous talent. 
• Considering first-hand knowledge or experience working with Indigenous Communities as an asset during our hiring process.

Indigenous Cultural Safety Training (92)iii

• Providing education for all employees on the history of Indigenous peoples.
• Made Indigenous Awareness Training available for all employees
• Fostering a safe and respectful workplace for peoples across all cultures.

Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day (92)iii

• As of 2021, Encepta adopted September 30th as a statutory holiday to celebrate the culture and strengths of Indigenous Peoples.

Encepta Resources

We had the pleasure to invite Jodi Carlow (RAM’s Indigenous Relations Manager) to host a Lunch and Learn on Indigenous Awareness for everyone in the company, and our internal Knowledge Base is being regularly updated, so our employees can learn more through videos and books, for example. Our employees also have an annual allowance for professional development that includes training courses on Indigenous Awareness.

There is still a very long way to go, but the first step toward truth and reconciliation is to listen carefully to Indigenous Peoples and educate ourselves about their culture and history in order to raise awareness. Our work here has an impact on people around us, and it must be continuous, so we can build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and strengthen their ability for self-determination, social well-being, and economic development.

‍

Book Recommendations

‍

‍

Passionate about diverse workforces? Contact us and learn more on how we support Indigenous communities and ensure equitable opportunities.