Indigenous North Americans continue to be overrepresented among those who are poor, unemployed, and with low levels of education. This has long been an issue of concern for Indigenous people and their allies and is now drawing the attention of government, business leaders, and others who know that this fast-growing population is a critical source of future labour. Shauna MacKinnon’s Decolonizing Employment: Aboriginal Inclusion in Canada’s Labour Market is a case study with lessons applicable to communities throughout North America. Her examination of Aboriginal labour market participation outlines the deeply damaging, intergenerational effects of colonial policies and describes how a neoliberal political economy serves to further exclude Indigenous North Americans.

MacKinnon’s work demonstrates that a fundamental shift in policy is required. Long-term financial support for comprehensive, holistic education and training programs that integrate cultural reclamation and small supportive learning environments is needed if we are to improve social and economic outcomes and support the spiritual and emotional healing that Aboriginal learners tell us is of primary importance.

Dr. Shauna MacKinnon is Professor and Chair, Department of Urban and Inner-City Studies at the University of Winnipeg, situated at Merchants Corner in Winnipeg’s North End. Dr. Mackinnon has conducted numerous studies related to public policy, poverty and inequality, typically utilizing a collaborative, community-based research approach. She is author of Decolonizing Employment: Aboriginal Inclusion in the Labour Market and editor of Practising Community Based Participatory Research Stories: Stories of Engagement, Empowerment, and Mobilization.

Shauna MacKinnon's profile page

“An extremely informative and well researched book, which provides a nuanced discussion of the barriers surrounding Aboriginal employment under contemporary Canadian colonialism and neo-liberal policy.”

Canadian Review of Social Policy/ Revue Canadienne de Politique Sociale