Multipotentialism does it sound better than “Jack of all Trades”
We have been inspired today to change the narrative on the pages ITFC has developed for the promotion of Indigenous freelancers. Our new “catch phrase” is Indigenous Multipotentialities
In doing some research for one of our online training programs for Indigenous first responders I came across an article on multipotentialism. In its broadest context multipotentialism refers to individuals with a wide range of interests, talents and potential career endeavors!
Who would fit that description any better than an Indigenous individual who, in the face of adversity, challenges and barriers (too many to mention), contribute to the social and economic well being of their friends, family and community.
Indigenous people have developed skills and knowledge across multiple disciplines both by desire and necessity. The skills and knowledge acquired in the process have contributed to a capability to come up with creative solutions to further the social and economic goals for themselves and community.
ITFC has recognized that corporate Canada has overlooked the economic potential of working with Indigenous “multipotentialities” (aka Freelancers) and is taking steps to facilitate the change that is required to maximize this pool of human capital.
The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada, an organization representing over 7000 members completed a Social Impact of Mineral Development Projects in Indigenous Communities, one of their recommended action statements is as follows:
“Seek out expert local Indigenous representation with a special consideration for elders who are women”
The recommendation to its 7000 members is meant to further the notion that inclusion and engagement efforts utilizing community-based knowledge at the start will benefit everyone involved in the long term.
There are thousands of Indigenous individuals across Canada that have worked for their community in governance, administrative departments, portfolio managers, treaty and special claim negotiators, positions that have yielded skills, knowledge and maybe most importantly insight into the local, regional and national economic opportunities within their community and traditional lands. ITFC is the only platform in Canada to advocate for and promote this kind of Indigenous talent.
The Its Time for Change platform, (www.itstimeforchange.ca), has provided Indigenous individuals the opportunity to promote themselves as multipotentialities, providing a platform that provides insight into their special skills and abilities. Complete with an end-to-end e-commerce solution, Indigenous multipotentialities can benefit from short-, medium- and long-term employment engagements where they can share their skills, knowledge, insights and creative solutions to the betterment of a greater economic good.
To enrich the experience of corporate Canada ITFC facilitates a comprehensive search capability that yields relevant results in a community and that is of primary interest to our members economic priorities.
The recommendation by PDAC in their study can and should resonate with all of corporate Canada not just the mining and resource industries. One of Canada’s major five banks in their Indigenous inclusion and engagement efforts states:
“Change takes action — not words”
Today we call upon and invite all of Canada’s business community to take action, to embrace inclusion and engagement and to reach out to Indigenous multipotentialities to further your economic agenda while building the Indigenous freelance economy.
