Equity for Indigenous people

Indigenous Engagement Guide: Building Trust, Becoming Allies

USW’s Indigenous engagement guide Building Trust, Becoming Allies draws on the experience of USW local unions with successful histories of engaging with Indigenous members and with neighbouring Indigenous nations and communities. It covers topics such as Engaging Indigenous Steelworkers in local union life; Bargaining Indigenous rights; Engaging with Indigenous nations, communities and neighbours; Indigenous Committees, Circles and Councils in local unions and beyond; and USW success stories.

USW Bargaining Guide for Advancing Indigenous Rights

Revised 2022

The USW Bargaining Guide for Advancing Indigenous Rights contains examples of contract language from USW and other collective agreements which aim to advance the rights of Indigenous workers and their communities.

United Steelworkers Statement of Principles on Indigenous Issues

USW is expanding outreach to members who are First Nations, Inuit, and Métis and expanding action on issues of importance to Indigenous peoples in Canada. Delegates at the 2016 USW National Policy Conference first adopted this Statement of Principles to guide our union’s work. It was revised and updated by the Steelworkers National Indigenous Committee in May 2026.

The United Steelworkers are proud to have Indigenous members as part of our union. Indigenous members are proud to be Steelworkers. We have a lot to offer Indigenous members. Further engaging our Indigenous members in the union, and drawing on the pride, knowledge, and experience of Indigenous members and Indigenous values and culture will enrich our union and make us stronger.

The United Steelworkers recognize Canada’s shameful history with regards to Indigenous peoples and the abuse suffered by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. As a union we must and will be part of processes of reconciliation and healing. At all levels of our union, we renew our commitment to building a relationship of mutual support and respect with Indigenous leaders, activists, organizations and communities.

The United Steelworkers support reconciliation and socio-economic justice based on Indigenous rights, honouring treaties, and meeting the principles and standards of the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. “Recognize, Accept, and Support” are key concepts that guide our union’s engagement on Indigenous issues. There are many ways to be a proud Steelworker; welcoming and respecting Indigenous members means engagement on their terms, consistent with their cultures and history. Putting into practice our commitments to inclusion, reconciliation and healing will mean that our union itself must continue to change and take concrete actions.

The Steelworkers’ commitment to represent and support our Indigenous members and their communities is part of our commitment to a democratic, inclusive, and diverse union that builds power and creates a bright future for us all.

The Blanket Exercise

The Blanket Exercise builds awareness and understanding of our shared history as Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.