Indigenous Relations is the process of improving your organization’s internal and external policies and systems so it can better relate to and work with Indigenous people, Indigenous businesses, Indigenous organizations, and Indigenous governments. Educating your team is a major first step in this process.

All land area in Canada is traditional Indigenous lands where Indigenous peoples have lived for at least 37,000 years! Kings and Queens of Europe negotiated treaties with Indigenous peoples to create Canada. These treaties are still relevant and legally binding to this day.

Treaties are nation-to-nation agreements that affect all people living in Canada. Indigenous peoples did not surrender or give up the land. Indigenous people agreed to share the land with Europeans.

The land area of Canada has two layers of government with different responsibilities with respect to the land and people. Our goal is to help your organization navigate this Canadian reality.

Is This Your Organization?

If your organization is similar to the list below then we may be able to help you.

• You have lost contracts because the “other guy” already had Indigenous Relations
• Working on traditional Indigenous lands of Canada
• Planning or currently working directly with Indigenous organizations
• Medium to large organizations with 50-500+ employees
• Resource industries like oil, gas, construction, forestry, mining, service, and subcontractors
• $5 million to $50 million+ annual revenue
• Other potential clients may be universities, trade schools, municipal governments, provincial governments, non-government organizations, non-profit organizations, large employers, community leagues, and religious organizations

Top Reasons for Indigenous Relations

I have a client that lost a multi-million dollar contract because the other bidder had a relationship with an Indigenous organization. This is a hard loss, especially when I informed them of the relatively minor and easy changes they needed.

• Get more contracts on traditional lands.
• Beat out other companies for Indigenous contracts.
• Improve company image within Indigenous communities.
• Create and improve direct relations with Indigenous groups.
• Improve internal work environment and culture with anti-racist, equity, diversity, and inclusion training.
• Become compliant with current Indigenous policy, calls to action, legislation, treaties, and declarations.

What Can We Do For Your Organization?

Below are some of the individual services we offer but I recommend our half-day introductory workshop. This workshop will allow up to 50 members of your team to get the basic knowledge to jumpstart your Indigenous Relations program within your organization.

• Identify needs and issues – meetings with managers/owners and employees
• Present “KAIROS Blanket Exercise”
• Present “Allyship” Workshop via Zoom
• Present “United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” workshop via Zoom
• Present “Exploring the Treaties” workshop via Zoom
• Review the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada 94 Calls to Action
• Update company strategic and operations plans
• Update HR and diversity & inclusion policies as needed
• Advise you on updates needed for marketing, advertising, and meetings
• Create an action plan for Indigenous community outreach
• Create an action plan for future Indigenous relations

Schedule An Indigenous Relations Needs Assessment