Utoo Radio with Other News Sources - February 6 2025 - The N.W.T. government is considering giving Indigenous northerners first priority for government jobs, a shift from the original plan to give all Indigenous Canadians equal priority.

The new Indigenous employment policy, which replaced the affirmative action hiring policy, received criticism for prioritizing all Indigenous Canadians equally.

Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek said the territory is working toward a new tier system that would put people with connections to northern Indigenous groups first, with all other Indigenous Canadians in a second priority group.

The proposal addresses concerns from MLAs and Indigenous governments about the upcoming policy change.

The change comes at a time of record low Indigenous employment in the territorial government.

The government held a town hall last week with employees about the policy change, which received a range of comments.

The policy is set to come into effect April 1 and has a set three-year review period.