Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 01/02) - Delphine Elleze used to be a classroom teacher. Now she's a workplace teacher.

As regional co-ordinator of the Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative (AWPI), she is assisting employers hire and retain aboriginal employees.

Cross-cultural workshops, which she can facilitate, would be one way for employers to gain insight into aboriginal customs and traditions. Understanding aboriginal history, and avoiding stereotypes, is imperative, she said.

It was only 100 years ago when aboriginal people were still living on the land, Elleze said.

"A hundred years ago isn't very, very long," she said. "We can't just become (industrialized) overnight. It takes some time, patience and understanding ... I think it's really important that they get a lot of support in the transition they're going through."

Therefore having workplace counselling available is beneficial, she said.

Employers are best off matching employees with their strengths, in some cases that means workers may not be inclined to sitting in an office all day, Elleze said.

Structuring work hours in a flexible manner is also helpful, she said.

Aboriginal employees, on the other hand, must be aware of the needs of the employers and show some degree of flexibility too, she said.

"Understanding has to come from both ways. That's how I believe," she said.

Elleze, who is from Fort Providence and has a teaching degree from the University of Saskatchewan, usually travels every month, attending conferences and career fairs.

She often finds herself acting as a conduit, linking employers with various organizations and providing them with information.

She can also provide smaller communities with an initial assessment of proposed pilot projects to employ aboriginals.

As well, she has been involved in promoting scholarships, awards and continued training for employees. She is also in the process of creating a series of NWT posters highlighting youth achievement.

Having been in the job since last summer, Elleze is finding her employment to her satisfaction.

"I love it. I absolutely love it," she said.