"Education is the most powerful tool that can be used to change the world."
Nelson Mandela

The Aboriginal population in Saskatchewan continues to grow steadily. Currently, in the age category 15 -29 years, 1 in 5 are Aboriginal. Population trends suggest that number will be 1 in 3 by 2026. This means that interactions with the Aboriginal community, professionally and personally, will only increase.
How is your organization preparing for the changing demographics?

Morris Interactive can help organizations prepare for the changing demographics by:

• Consulting on developing strategic plans for Building a Representative Workforce
• Preparing your workplace for Changing demographics
• Consulting on developing recruitment and retention strategies
• Delivering Aboriginal Awareness Education Workshop  "Two Worlds, One Path: Building Strong Relationships with the Aboriginal Community"

Two Worlds, One Path: Building Strong Relationships with the Aboriginal Community

"Two Worlds, One Path" is a workshop about pouring a foundation in which positive, healthy relationships with the Aboriginal community can be built upon. It provides a respectful environment to deconstruct common misconceptions, provides knowledge regarding historical and contemporary topics of interest, locally, provincially and nationally, and provides tools for future-focused action.

Workshop Content Highlights:

• Terminology, Statistics & Demographics
• Current Events
• Deconstructing Misconceptions
• Interactive Historical Timeline
• Moving Forward: Becoming Culturally Competent

"Two Worlds, One Path" is a proactive workshop that provides organizations with practical tools to cultivate and/or nurture professional and personal relationships with the Aboriginal community. It utilizes current best practices, adult learning principles and is designed to be interactive, educational and motivational.
Workshop Length: Typically this workshop runs 1-2 Days but can also be customized to suit your organization's specific needs.

Logic Model for Two Worlds, One Path:

1. This workshop is based on the methodology of what has NOT worked in the past. Historically, at the time of early contact between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, the attempt was made to live life separately with little interaction. This belief system was represented in the exchange of Wampum Belts in Eastern Canada. This philosophy does not work today as daily business and personal interactions make this impossible.

2. The second unsuccessful methodology in relationships between the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people was implemented occurred during the early years, mid 1800's to mid 1900's, around the time Canada began to establish itself as an independent nation. By this time it was acknowledged that these two groups could not live life untouched by the other. Parameters were set based on early government legislation such as the British North America Act (BNA Act), the Numbered Treaties and the Indian Act, 1876. The result was the attempted, and often successful, assimilation of the Aboriginal peoples was of life.

3. By evaluating the past methodologies that were not successful, it becomes apparent that the approach to building successful and sustainable relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, must lie somewhere in the middle, hence the creation of the methodology behind this workshop.

Notice that there remains room for differences to remain intact and takes into account the preservation of traditional practices, beliefs and values of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. However, there is a consistent overlap, in personal and professional relationships, that must be acknowledged. This workshop looks at that overlap, as shown in the logic model, and begins to explore the foundation of what this overlap must be built upon to create strong, healthy and positive relationships in the community.