Indigenous Relations Specialist

Job Overview

Job Category

Business and Operations Support

Sectors

Education

Environment

Office only

About This Career

Indigenous Relations Specialists are the tie that binds oil and gas companies to Indigenous communities and leaders. In Canada, these communities often have a special, traditional and unique legal relationship to the land that oil and gas companies work on or would like access to. These professionals work with both sides to try to build relationships between and find win-win solutions for everyone involved.

Indigenous people in Canada have a special, traditional and unique legal relationship to the land. Oil and gas companies often work on treaty lands or lands that have Indigenous rights, claims and active Indigenous communities. Indigenous Relations Specialists work with Indigenous communities and leadership to foster and maintain relationships between the company and Indigenous communities.

An Indigenous Relations Specialist may, or may not, work within a larger team depending on company size and structure. They make management aware of the Government’s Indigenous consultation policies and requirements, and ensure the company fulfills its regulatory consultation obligations. Within some companies, Indigenous Relations Specialists provide leadership and support in a wide range of responsibilities including Indigenous business development initiatives, managing relationships with partners, supporting inclusive recruitment, and supporting the development of strategies that promote Indigenous inclusion on projects.

In this occupation activities may include:

Bringing together representatives of the Indigenous community and the company to develop a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship.
Facilitating and participating in formal and informal meetings to learn of concerns from the community.
Developing and implementing an engagement strategy with Indigenous and local communities.
Developing strategies and policies to promote business development or investment in, or with, local Indigenous communities.
Working with others in the company to identify and remove any barriers in the employment process for Indigenous peoples.

Education

Aboriginal liaisons need a combination of related education and experience
Most employers require applicants to have a post-secondary diploma or degree in a field related to the organization's business or Indigenous Studies, Indigenous Relations or a related field.

Certifications

Certification is not required, as there is currently no legislation regulating this occupation.

Additional Requirements

While not necessarily through a formal program of study, these specialists typically combine knowledge about First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities, knowledge about local Indigenous history, cultures and issues, and knowledge about their employer's organizational structure, culture and services or products.
Specific health and safety certifications may be required, determined by location of work and company requirements

Indigenous Relations specialists have a deep knowledge about First Nations, Metis and Inuit history, cultures and issues. They combine this with their people-skills, organization, and analytical thinking to find beneficial paths forward for their company and the community.