Indigenous Peoples
Research
Gearing Up for Global Exports: Identifying Skills and Promising Practices to Support Indigenous Exporters
Indigenous small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada continue to be under‑represented in global trade due to long‑standing barriers that limit their access to global markets, financing, and export‑related support.
Research
Mapping Indigenous Export Potential: The Intersection of Indigenous Self-Employment With Canada’s Export Economy
Indigenous-owned SMEs operating in export-engaged industries tend to be more resilient and achieve higher growth than those serving only domestic markets, yet the Indigenous export rate (7.2 per cent) remains well below the Canadian average (12.1 per cent).
Initiatives
2025 ISET Event Report
From May 22-23, 2025, the Future Skills Centre, in partnership with Jelly Academy Inc. co-hosted an in-person, two-day Innovative Indigenous Career and Future Skills Symposium.
Research
Talent Perceptions Study of Economic Growth Sectors in the Calgary Region
Calgary’s economy is poised for significant growth in key sectors like energy transition, technology and health care. However, a critical misalignment threatens this progress: a major disconnect exists between the in-demand occupations, as identified by employers, and the local talent pool’s skills and perceptions.
Blog
Walking the Talk: Reflections on Relationship-Building in Indigenous Workforce Development
The ISET Symposium reinforced that relationship-building between Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners is not a one-time activity or a short-term objective. It is an ongoing responsibility that requires humility, reflection, and sustained commitment, with Indigenous partners setting the pace and direction of the work.
Project
Project Connect: Professional Project Administrator Program
Indigenous Peoples represent the fastest growing and youngest population in Canada, offering critical potential to address skills shortages. Yet systemic inequities in access to education and training persist, resulting in lower employment outcomes and increased vulnerability to economic downturns.
Project
FUSION: Future Skills Innovation Network for Universities
The program focused on building metacognition (awareness or understanding of one’s own thinking), communication and problem-solving skills through flexible, experiential and reflective learning delivered in co-op programs across humanities, social sciences and STEM disciplines.
Research
Technology and Agriculture: Adoption and Barriers
Without explicit educational support, small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) and diverse-owned agribusiness may be left out of the AgTech revolution. Skills-based supports are needed to maintain market competitiveness and ensure technology literacy and adoption issues are equalized—not accentuated—among groups.
Research
Supporting Rural Agriculture Entrepreneurship: Reframing the Discourse
This research examined how agriculture sector stereotypes impair the growth and sustainability of the sector. Rural agriculture entrepreneurs face several challenges more than traditional businesses.