CPHR BC & Yukon engages RRU to advance Indigenous Relations courses

News Release reproduced with permission from CPHR BC & Yukon.

The Chartered Professionals in Human Resources BC & Yukon is pleased to announce that it has engaged the Royal Roads University to provide courses to our more than 8,000 members, on how they can continue to enhance their Indigenous community engagement journeys.

This follows a robust and comprehensive Request for Proposals process to seek a partner to provide members with much needed guidance on this important initiative.

A survey commissioned by CPHR BC & Yukon last fall and undertaken by IRP Consulting, who are experts in indigenous matters, showed that a majority of HR professionals in BC believe their organizations have a significant amount of work to do as far providing reconciliation training to their employees. 

When asked where their organizations are on their reconciliation journey, HR Leads rated their organizations as being at a 5 out of 10.

And when asked what they have undertaken specifically to date, the top responses were tied between two themes: implementing and utilizing land acknowledgements; and providing, participating in, and mandating training opportunities focused on the history of Indigenous people in Canada, reconciliation, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

“We are pleased to be able to act on the feedback from members to offer these much-needed courses,” said Anthony Ariganello, FCPHR, CEO, CPHR BC & Yukon. “One of the objectives for us as the representative organization for HR, is to ensure we aid our members so they can continue on the reconciliation journey in a respectful, sustainable, and engaged manner.”

The courses, which will be offered to members this Fall, will focus on Foundations of Truth & Reconciliation as well as on Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Worldviews in the Workplace.

CPHR BC & Yukon has already offered several introductory training sessions on reconciliation in addition to establishing a Community of Practice for Indigenous Organizations as well as focusing on reconciliation in the Fall 2024 issue of its PeopleTalk Magazine.

“At Royal Roads, we are committed to advancing reconciliation through education that is respectful, relational, and grounded in Indigenous perspectives, including those of the Lekwungen-speaking Peoples on whose traditional lands we are privileged to learn and work,” said Dr. Zoe MacLeod, associate vice-president, Professional and Continuing Studies at Royal Roads University. 

“We are honoured to walk alongside CPHR BC & Yukon and its members in this work, supporting HR professionals in deepening their awareness and practicing reconciliation in ways rooted in reciprocity, relationship, and responsibility within their organizations and communities.”