N.W.T. wants more aboriginal workers

The government of the Northwest Territories is redoubling its efforts to boost the number of aboriginal people in the public service especially in management jobs.

It has set up an eight-member committee to help build a workforce that reflects the makeup of the territory's population.

Currently, about 31 per cent of the government's workforce is aboriginal. But they're concentrated in lower-end jobs, while only 14 per cent of senior managers areaboriginal.

Tom Williams, co-chairman of the Aboriginal Employees Advisory Committee, said the task is to build a better public service for the people of the Northwest Territories.

"We'll be looking at not only targeted training, and trying to increase employment at the entry level and senior management, but looking at cross-cultural training, sensitivity training for government employees and managers," he said.

Williams said there also will be more transfers and secondments between the territorial, municipal and aboriginal governments to build up aboriginal participation in the territorial government.