- Social Responsibility
- Aboriginal Affairs
Aboriginal Affairs
Husky interacts with Aboriginal communities across the country and has developed a respect for Aboriginal values and tradition. Husky practises effective consultation to the mutual benefit of the Company and Aboriginal communities.
Vision
Husky's vision is that all employees have an understanding of the Aboriginal communities associated with its projects.
Mission
Husky is committed to building sustainable relationships with Aboriginal communities in areas where it operates.
The Company's approach to sustainable relationships recognizes that consistency must be balanced with flexibility to deal effectively with the dynamic nature of relationship building.
Husky publishes an Aboriginal Affairs Guide to provide employees with an overview of its commitment to Aboriginal communities and to demonstrate how that commitment is integrated into job performance.
Sustainable Relationships: Three Pillars
Husky's success in working with Aboriginal communities and sustaining relationships is based on three pillars: promoting education, supporting community wellness initiatives and fostering economic development.
Here are a few of the ways Husky has put that commitment into action:
Promoting Education
Husky believes academic success leads to improved career opportunities and positive impacts on the current and future generations of Aboriginal people.
To support this, Husky's Aboriginal Education Awards Program assists Aboriginal people in achieving career success by encouraging the pursuit of advanced education. The program, which began in 1984, provides bursaries each year to Aboriginal students pursuing high school upgrading, and post-secondary education related to the oil and natural gas sector. Husky has contributed more than $1 million to the program.
Husky contributes to educational programs for Aboriginal students. One of the significant educational initiatives it supports is the Jack James High School's Aboriginal Pride Program in Calgary. The program is designed to improve graduation rates among urban Aboriginal young people, and since its inception has prompted the development of four additional programs. Husky has supported the program since 2003.
Supporting Wellness & Culture
Being a good neighbour means looking beyond day-to-day business activities and becoming involved in the community. Husky is committed to supporting Aboriginal communities in their efforts to enhance community wellness and culture.
Aboriginal Community Investment
Fostering Economic Development
The support and development of Aboriginal businesses and technical expertise is an ongoing commitment at Husky. The Company's approach is centered upon building capacity in Aboriginal-run businesses, establishing competitiveness and promoting an entrepreneurial spirit. In 2010, Husky purchased more than $20 million in goods and services from 40 Aboriginal businesses in Alberta.
As part of its commitment to the Dene Tha' First Nation, Husky contracted the services of a Dene Tha' construction business. The contractor has cleared bush, cut trees and helped build roads for Husky's operations, providing a consistent and competitive service for Husky while benefiting the local economy and providing direct employment to Aboriginal people.
To further support community economic development, Husky awards business contracts to Aboriginal vendors, participates in a broad spectrum of community events such as pow-wows, attends Treaty Day celebrations and culture camps, and provides information at career fairs and open houses to support educational and economic opportunities for Aboriginal communities and individuals.
Effective Consultation
Effective consultation is the cornerstone of Husky's relationships with Aboriginal communities and is influenced by its corporate commitment and regulatory requirements.
Consultation with Aboriginal communities is coordinated to provide for:
- A consistent approach
- Engagement of appropriate Aboriginal communities
- Achievement of regulatory requirements
Husky practises a consistent approach to relationship building that is tailored to the needs and capacity of the community. The result may range from a formal agreement, such as a Memorandum of Understanding, to a simple shared understanding of the community engagement processes that Husky practises.
Husky consults with Aboriginal communities identified by Canadian government authorities and with those communities it has agreements with, or which indicate an interest in a project.
Aboriginal Affairs Team
Husky's Aboriginal Affairs team provides internal advisory and relationship support to various departments. Externally, the team is responsible for engaging Aboriginal communities.
Husky's Aboriginal Affairs team is guided by leaders who assist, develop and promote Aboriginal community engagement. Senior management supports the implementation of Husky's Aboriginal engagement strategies.
To contact a member of Husky's Aboriginal Affairs team, or to receive further information regarding Husky's Community Investment or Education Award initiatives, please call (403) 298-6111.
