Amazon Canada is marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation tomorrow by promoting awareness and engaging with workers on the topic through its company intranet and Indigenous employee resource group.
The online retailer is providing educational resources through its internal channels and promoting ways that employees can support Indigenous-owned businesses and not-for-profit organizations.
Read: Truth and Reconciliation: Redbrick educating employees on issues impacting Indigenous Canadians
The employer’s Indigenous ERG plays an important role in these efforts by connecting employees across the country, says Zoya Zayler, Amazon’s head of inclusive experiences and technology engagement for Canada and Latin America.
“This group comes together for networking and shared experiences. They also advocate on behalf of Indigenous customers and help us as an organization to innovate and solve some of the challenges that we’re seeing, especially around technology and skills and making sure that our workforce is representative of our customers and the communities that we operate in.”
The company’s Truth and Reconciliation efforts are ongoing throughout the year, notes Zayler. In June, Amazon marked Indigenous History Month by hosting a national engagement event that featured a keynote presentation by Dr. Duke Redbird, an elder from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation in Ontario, as well as a virtual learning session for employees hosted by Anishinaabek elder Allen Sutherland.
Read: Truth and Reconciliation: KPMG in Canada focusing on education, recruitment efforts
“A big part of what we’re focused on is making sure we’re creating that awareness and a safe space for our people to ask questions and to bring issues to life.”
Amazon has also launched a program called Your Voice is Power, which encourages reconciliation among middle school and high school students by teaching computer coding skills by remixing music made by Indigenous artists.
“If we get them at that point right and if they continue down a path, that’s great for society and that’s great for us, because that also enhances the talent pool,” she says.
Read: Truth and Reconciliation: Employer awareness growing but more action required, says expert