Groundbreaking Study will Increase Indigenous Leadership in Technology Across B.C.

The First Nations Technology Council is excited to announce that the Indigenous Leadership in Technology: Understanding Access and Opportunities in BC Report (ILIT) is now available. 

This report, which is the culmination of more than two-years of work, provides baseline data that illuminates the current state of Indigenous leadership in technology. It examines labour market opportunities and constraints, skills development gaps, and perceptions about Indigenous employment and training across all sectors of BC’s economy – both from an Indigenous and industry perspective. The report also details the current state of access to the internet for urban, rural, and remote Indigenous people, and seeks to better understand what tech-related skills Indigenous people have and want to learn. This is the first time such detailed, regionally-specific information has been captured and used to prioritize BC First Nations’ rights and visions for the future.

“Our research was guided by Indigenous knowledge, values, and ways of being to ensure the findings were reflective and representative of many diverse experiences across the province. Participants in this project included BC First Nations leadership; Indigenous Peoples across BC including youth and Elders; and key partners from all sectors including education, tech, recruitment, research, and more,” said Lauren Kelly, Director, Sector Transformation at the First Nations Technology Council. “We want to thank everyone who contributed to this important body of work that will serve Indigenous Peoples in what is currently known as BC. We also want to thank the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (PSFS) for providing funding for this ground-breaking research through their Sector Labour Market Partnerships Program,” concluded Kelly.

Our goal is for this research to be widely used by First Nations Leadership and governments, and key partners across all sectors of BC’s economy to support Indigenous-identified priorities and increase Indigenous leadership in digital society. The next step in this process will be to share the stories and information we have gathered through a meaningful, reciprocal exchange of knowledge to raise awareness of our work. We’ll also convene key partners and Indigenous Peoples to co-create an implementation strategy that will ensure our research can be widely used and implemented. For more information on the project, or to download a full copy of the Report, click here.