4.44

Highlights

The Public Service Agency and external contributors via the Indigenous Youth Internship Program Advisory Committee were able to meaningfully contribute feedback to the evaluation workplan, framework and data collection tools. Taking the time to incorporate feedback from contributors has strengthened the framework and is helping to ensure data collection can occur intentionally and safely.

Data collection started in February 2025, continuing into Spring 2025 with the vendor, MNP LLP, beginning to conduct interviews, surveys, and focus groups with current and former IYIP staff, alumni, and intern supervisors and mentors within the public service and Indigenous organizations. The data collection phase of the evaluation is expected to continue to Summer 2025, with a public report and recommendations to follow in Fall 2025.

The Public Service Agency and the vendor are adhering to the principles of Ownership, Control, Access and Possession throughout the project, and will share data with the Anti-Racism Data Act Research Committee to enhance available data for related research on Indigenous employees’ experience in the public service.

How are we working together?

The Public Service Agency operates the Indigenous Youth Internship Program (IYIP) amongst a suite of leadership and development programs available to Indigenous Peoples. The Internship Program Advisory Committee includes representatives and/or IYIP alumni from the BC First Nations Summit, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Métis Nation BC, and Indigenous public service employees. 

The Public Service Agency shares project documents and plans with IYIP committee members for feedback, which is then incorporated by the contracted vendor, MNP LLP. The diversity of partner perspectives has been key in guiding co-development at each stage of this action. The committee and Indigenous organizational partners will be invited to engage in data analysis and other co-development activities as the action proceeds. 

Data from the evaluation will be made available to the Ministry of Citizens’ Services to inform their research related to the Anti-Racism Data Act. In aligning IYIP evaluation data collection with Anti-Racism Data Act research, the evaluation data will also impact recruitment and retention work happening on Action 3.02.

Are there challenges?

The IYIP has 350 alumni and an even broader network of mentors and supervisors from within the BC Public Service and across many Indigenous organizations. Connecting with potential evaluation participants requires a variety of tactics given that the Public Service Agency needs to collect participants’ consent for MNP LLC to contact them. 

The IYIP webpage was updated to highlight that the evaluation is happening and provides a form for interested evaluation participants to complete to be contacted to take part in surveys, interviews and/or focus groups. Adequate time is being built into the workplan to ensure a statistically significant number of participants engage in a variety of evaluation activities.

Highlights

The Indigenous Youth Internship Program (IYIP) is entering its 18^th year. IYIP is a valued employment program with far reaching impact within the BC Public Service and broader Indigenous organizations and First Nations communities in B.C. A vendor has been identified through BC Bid to conduct the evaluation of IYIP and is being supported through the work of the IYIP advisory committee, which includes representatives and/or IYIP alumni from the BC First Nations Summit, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Métis Nation BC, and Indigenous BC Public Service employees. 

Members of the IYIP advisory committee participated in reviewing the request for proposals that was posted to BC Bid in December 2023, as well as the evaluation of submitted bids and selection of successful vendor. IYIP advisory committee members will guide and approve the contractor’s evaluation framework, implementation, and reporting. It is anticipated that the IYIP evaluation will include interviews of current and former IYIP staff and surveys and focus groups with 300+ IYIP alumni, former supervisors and mentors, and Indigenous partner organizations. 

How are we working together?

PSA engaged with members of the Indigenous Youth Internship Program (IYIP) advisory committee, which includes representatives from the First Nations Summit, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs and IYIP program alumni employed by the BC Public Service. Métis Nation BC did not have capacity to participate at this time but will be involved in future. Engagement with committee members was via email and virtual meetings. IYIP advisory committee members will be invited to a working group to guide and approve the contractor’s evaluation framework, implementation, and reporting. It is anticipated that the evaluation process will include interviews of current and former IYIP staff and surveys and focus groups with 300+ IYIP alumni, former supervisors and mentors, and Indigenous partner organizations. 

Are there challenges?

Developing the procurement required significant time and resources which delayed posting the opportunity to BC Bid until December 2023. The Province developed the Indigenous Procurement Initiative to increase Indigenous Peoples’ participation in B.C. Government procurements, while also helping to address the legacies of colonization which have contributed to the systemic exclusion of Indigenous Peoples from economic opportunities. The intent of Action 4.44 is to conduct a culturally safe evaluation of an Indigenous-specific employment program, which necessitated close examination of the Province’s existing procurement and legal practices to ensure alignment to reconciliation commitments. Initial timelines were extended to accommodate this examination and the PSA and its internal partners gained valuable insight to apply to future procurements of this nature. To mitigate this delay, PSA will ensure there is adequate time for planning, engagement and implementation once the successful proponent begins work.