Culture and Power in the Workplace: Aboriginal Women's Perspectives on Practices to Increase Aboriginal Inclusion in Forest Processing Mills [Journal of Aboriginal Economic Development, JAED]

"In this paper, we examine practices implemented by forest processing firms to increase retention of Aboriginal employees in the workplace from the perspective of Aboriginal women workers. Although cultural sensitivity trainings were a common ameliorative used by companies, Aboriginal women working for these firms were equivocal in their opinions of them. While some Aboriginal women found the recognition of Aboriginal culture empowering, others found the exercise tokenizing, particularly when white 'experts' made presentations explaining Aboriginal culture. More important for many Aboriginal women were structural interventions providing affirmative action and installing effective anti-harassment policies. Aboriginal women wanted equitable access to promotions and increased involvement in decision-making. They also stressed the need for policies against discrimination and harassment to be effectively implemented to prevent the continued marginalization of Aboriginal women in the workplace."