JEDI — Indigenous Internship Program

The Indigenous Internship Program (IIP) provides recent Indigenous post-secondary graduates with meaningful job placements, enhancing their professional skills and fostering sustainable employment. Designed in partnership with host organizations, JEDI ensures these placements aim to bridge the gap between education and employment, equipping participants with hands-on experience and career progression opportunities.

The Indigenous Internship Program (IIP) is a strategic initiative by the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI), designed to empower Indigenous graduates as they transition from academia to the professional workforce. This program not only aims to bridge the education-to-employment gap but also significantly contributes to the economic development of Indigenous communities across New Brunswick through practical skill development.

Through a collaborative effort with federal and provincial government departments, agencies, and other sectoral partners, the IIP places a strong emphasis on enhancing workforce diversity and fostering an inclusive work environment. Host organizations, including government bodies, Crown corporations, and various business and community organizations, play a pivotal role in this endeavor by offering tailored internships that match the graduates' field of study, ensuring they gain relevant and rigorous industry experience.

A core component of the program is the development of a robust on-the-job training regime that prepares participants for long-term employment. The internships, usually spanning several months, provide the graduates with opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world settings, thus deepening their understanding of their chosen career paths. This experiential learning also cultivates a range of soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, further enhancing the participants’ employability.

For host organizations, the IIP offers access to fresh and diverse talent that can bring innovative ideas and perspectives to their operations. By engaging with Indigenous graduates, organizations not only fulfill important corporate social responsibility objectives but also contribute to closing the employment gap for Indigenous peoples. The initiative ensures that hosts align their internships with industry-specific goals, maximizing both organizational impact and participant growth.

JEDI oversees the smooth execution of the IIP by working closely with the host organizations to design customized internship programs that meet both the individual and organizational needs. By conducting regular evaluations and feedback sessions, JEDI helps refine the process and improve outcomes, providing ongoing support to ensure the success of the placements.

With funding from various levels of government and industry partners, this program underscores Canada’s commitment to fostering an equitable and inclusive economic landscape. This systematic support structure aids in minimizing unemployment and underemployment rates among recent Indigenous graduates, thus playing a critical role in economically empowering Indigenous communities.

Additionally, by engaging with this program, participating organizations gain a competitive edge through increased workforce diversity, which often leads to enhanced performance and innovation. The cross-cultural understanding fostered within these organizations leads to a more dynamic workplace environment, where diverse viewpoints are welcomed and innovation is prioritized.

The Indigenous Internship Program thus represents a significant opportunity for Indigenous graduates and Canadian employers. It serves as a pivotal link between education and industry, ensuring that graduates not only have access to meaningful employment opportunities but also possess the skills and confidence to pursue careers that contribute positively to their communities and the broader economy.