Yellowknife, N.W.T. - A Northern perspective on inclusive practices for aboriginal people was on display this week in Edmonton.

A panel discussion on the subject was part of the Inclusion Works '12 conference and Education, Culture and Employment minister Jackson Lafferty was part of that panel, talking about how the GNWT and other companies have managed to attract and keep aboriginal post-secondary graduates working in the territory.

Lafferty said focusing on the importance of education is one way aboriginal grads can have an opportunity to be successful.

“If they can complete post secondary or trades, they have all these opportunities with mining companies," he said. "Even at the community level, we are always lacking trades people at the community level so it's all about transferring skills."

Lafferty also said there was a wide variety of people from all sorts of economic areas listening to the discussion "government organizations, private sector, NGOs, community corporations as well.  There were a lot of people, over 100 people," he said.

The conference is organized by the Aboriginal Human Rights Council and is the largest indigenous conference of its kind in Canada.

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