Start with what is already funded
Canada funds employment and training support delivered by Indigenous organisations across the country. The federal Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program, usually shortened to ISET, funds service delivery organisations that work directly with First Nations, Inuit and Metis job seekers. Many Friendship Centres, Tribal Councils, Metis Nation affiliates and Inuit organisations run their own employment services alongside it.
These services are not a last resort. They often cover things a job board cannot: help with certification costs, safety tickets, tools, transport to an interview, childcare while you train, and someone who will follow up with an employer on your behalf. Program names, eligibility and funding cycles change, so confirm the current details with the organisation nearest you rather than relying on any one article.
Decide what you are actually looking for
Before applying to anything, it helps to write down four things: the kind of work you want, the minimum pay you can accept, how far you are willing to travel, and whether you are open to camp or rotational work. Most disappointing job searches come from skipping this step and applying broadly to roles that were never going to fit.
Use the filters properly
On this portal you can search by job title, keyword or company name, then narrow by province or territory, category, and employment type. If you are open to relocating, search a wider region and read the posting carefully for what the employer covers. If you are not, filter tightly and check the location line on every listing before you apply.
Ask employers direct questions
You are allowed to ask an employer what they actually do for Indigenous employees. Useful questions include whether there is anyone Indigenous in a leadership role, what happens if you need time off for a funeral or a ceremony, whether the workplace has cultural awareness training, and who you would raise a concern with. An employer serious about inclusive hiring will have answers ready. One that does not is telling you something useful.
Keep a record
Track every application: the role, the date, who you spoke to, and what was said. It makes follow up easier, it helps if you later need to raise a concern about how you were treated, and it stops you applying twice to the same employer by accident.