The Strategy

The Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy (AHRDS) is designed to expand the employment opportunities of Aboriginal people across Canada. Under this Strategy, Aboriginal organizations design and deliver employment programs and services best suited to meet the unique needs of their communities.

The AHRDS is designed to assist Aboriginal people to prepare for, find, and keep jobs. All Aboriginal people, regardless of status or location, may access its programs and services. These include: labour market interventions; programs for youth, urban and Aboriginal persons living with disabilities; creation and maintenance of child care spaces (First Nations and Inuit Child Care), and capacity building for Agreement holders.

Currently, there are 80 Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreements (AHRDAs) in place across Canada. Service Canada's regional offices work closely with these Agreement holders to implement the AHRDS and its programs and services.

These community-level agreements with Aboriginal organizations throughout Canada are flexible to ensure that Aboriginal organizations have the authority to make decisions that will meet the needs of their communities. Each organization must meet accountability requirements and demonstrate performance results.

A unique feature under the Strategy is the Aboriginal Human Resource Council (AHRDC). A pillar of the Strategy, the Council builds a broad network with the private sector, Aboriginal organizations and other levels of government to address the human resource challenges facing Aboriginal people. Its goal is to create partnerships among Aboriginal organizations, the private sector, and federal and provincial governments, which result in the development of career opportunities leading to full participation by Aboriginal people in the Canadian economy.

• Capacity Building