This speech by the deputy chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission discusses human rights, employment security, and pay-equity issues for Native Canadian women. The speech, offered in both English and French, calls the inequality of opportunity for Native Canadians a "national tragedy." It describes efforts to bring improvement in aboriginal people's political, social, cultural, and economic condition. The speaker describes discrimination inherent in Canadian laws and steps to correct them. The 1986 passage of the Employment Equality Act is called a "major step forward." The act requires employers to gather employment data and to take steps to correct discrimination. The act has provided a substantial information base, showing that aboriginal people represented only 0.7% of the industrial workforce and that their salaries were generally lower than those of other workers. Women were not adequately represented in the job categories. Employment statistics for aboriginal females in specific Canadian companies are offered. The commission has used the statistics to review employment systems of major Canadian employers, including some federal offices. Equal pay for women is also discussed. Since 1977, Canadians have been able to close the gap between what women and men earn for equal work by only 3%. The Human Rights Commission favors imposing an obligation for employers to evaluate their pay practices and develop plans to resolve pay-discrimination issues. Also discussed are the problems and benefits of the Status Registration and Band Membership system, defined by recently-enacted federal legislation in Canada. (TES)