Aboriginal Relations
Aboriginal Peoples Policy
Our Vision
Dumas Contracting Ltd. works with Aboriginal communities to build mutually beneficial relationships in an environment of trust and respect.
Our Guiding Principles
Dumas Contracting Ltd. will achieve this vision by:
- Engaging in meaningful and ongoing consultation with Aboriginal communities on corporate initiatives that affect their interests.
- Recognizing the importance of indigenous cultural traditions and environmental knowledge, and fostering an organizational culture that values cross-cultural awareness, sensitivity and respect for all.
- Supporting education and training initiatives that facilitate Aboriginal peoples’ access to employment.
- Promoting business opportunities for Aboriginal people through cooperation and collaboration with our customers, suppliers and sub-contractors.
Our Commitment
Dumas Contracting Ltd. will engage in transparent, objective consultations with Aboriginal communities in order to establish and implement strategies consistent with our vision and guiding principles.
Aboriginal Peoples Plan
At Dumas Contracting Ltd. we take pride in our tradition of relationship building and partnerships with First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. Our Aboriginal Peoples Plan (APP) was developed with the help of our Aboriginal partners, and represents our promise to respect and work with the people with whom we share the land. It is based on years of experience in developing positive, mutually beneficial relationships with Aboriginal people across Ontario and Canada. The APP consists of four essential commitments:
- Communication. We are committed to regular and ongoing communication and consultation with our Aboriginal partners. Communication builds trust, mutual respect and understanding, and helps to bridge misunderstandings and cultural differences in world-view.
- Cross-Cultural Awareness. We are cultivating a workplace culture that respects and learns from diversity, and that promotes positive working relationships. To do this, we’re delivering specific, appropriate cross-cultural awareness training to project managers and employees.
- Employment and Training. Dumas believes in the importance of offering Aboriginal individuals training that may provide long-term employment in the mining industry. We recognize that training is only half of the equation, and we follow up with meaningful job opportunities.
- Business Opportunities. Each new project has potential for new and established businesses to serve the needs of the company, its major suppliers and its employees. We’re committed to providing Aboriginal communities with opportunities to secure related contract work.
Ongoing Evaluation
Each commitment in our APP is linked to a series of measurable objectives that we develop for each project. We will revisit this document on an annual basis to ensure that it continues to reflect the needs and values of our company, as well as its First Nations, Inuit and Métis partners.
Success Story
2008 Training Success: Crowflight Minerals,
Bucko Lake Mine Project, Manitoba, Canada
Dumas worked with the Northern Manitoba Sector Council and University College of the North (UCN) to offer a Common Core Mining program that would train local Aboriginal people for mine employment. Nine First Nations residents from Wabowden, Cross Lake and Snow Lake entered and completed the program, graduating in May 2009. All nine were hired at Bucko Lake mine. The program received praise from the Manitoba government and UCN, and we’ve been asked to repeat it.
“I’m no stranger to hard work. I was just happy that I got the opportunity to be one of the lucky one they picked first for this program. On a personal level, it was really uplifting. It made me feel like I belong.”
Glen Settee, Cross Lake First Nation
Common Core Graduate, UCN Manitoba in partnership with Dumas Contracting Ltd.