Cover Story

ReconciliACTION:

Taking Steps on Indigenous Economic Inclusion

By Véronique Loewen

We have all seen the census statistics indicating that, in Saskatchewan, Indigenous people are the fastest growing demographic (22.8 per cent increase between 2006 and 2016 and representing 13.7% of the province’s workforce).

We also know that the unemployment rate of First Nations people living off reserve was 14% (23% for those living on-reserve) compared to 6% for non-Indigenous people. As our local economy continues to grow, it will depend increasingly on the inclusion in the workforce of Indigenous people and the support of and collaboration with Indigenous-owned businesses.

How do we ensure that First Nation, Métis and Inuit people can fully participate in today’s business sector and our future economy? The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action invites us all to work towards that goal.

About the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) had a mandate to facilitate the reconciliation among former residential school students, their families, their communities and all Canadians. The TRC’s Calls to Action encourage all Canadians to learn about the history of Indigenous people, about the legacy of the residential schools system, and laws that prevented Indigenous people from fully participating in Canadian society. The TRC further promotes reconciliation between all Canadians and Indigenous people by inviting Canadians to implement its recommendations. Call to Action #92 (TRC92) specifically urges the business community to participate in the path to reconciliation. The Government of Canada states that TRC92 calls “upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources.” What does it mean for businesses in Saskatoon and beyond?

It means that among many responses businesses are invited to commit to establishing respectful relationships and meaningful consultation processes with Indigenous peoples. It also requires their commitment to providing equitable access to gainful employment, training, and education for Indigenous peoples. It implies that they take steps to educate their leaders, managers and employees on the history of Aboriginal peoples and the legacy of past laws and practices and their impact. And it also requires that they provide employee training covering subjects such as anti-racism, human rights, discrimination prevention, and intercultural relationships building. It may entail that corporations review their human resources recruitment and management practices, and operational processes, and the way they might disqualify or impact potential and current Indigenous employees. These are only a few of the ways corporations can address this Call to Action. For many small and medium size businesses the task may seem daunting.

Implementing TRC92 within the Saskatoon Business Community

The Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce had a well established “Indigenous Engagement Committee,” however TRC92 gave its members the opportunity to refocus its mandate. They changed the committee’s name to the Call to 92 Committee and set out to share experiences, knowledge and best practices to ensure that the Chamber and its members could find a path to economic reconciliation in the community. They also ensured Indigenous business leaders’ participation within the committee, and they consulted with Elders, Indigenous community organizations’ representatives, knowledge keepers and community members when developing their educational programming and special events. “The Call to 92 Committee is our opportunity to facilitate connections

How do we ensure that First Nation, Métis and Inuit people can fully participate in today’s business sector and our future economy? The Truth and “ Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action invites us all to work towards that goal.

between non-Indigenous and Indigenous businesses, to support each other and celebrate success for all,” says committee member Todd Denzin, Vice President, Commercial Potash at Nutrien.

“People, business owners and their employees, want to get involved and move forward in a spirit of reconciliation. They want to help the Reconciliation process, but they don’t know where to start or how to go about it,” says Steve Atkinson, another committee member and Director of Learning & Development Services at Morris Interactive. “That’s why we created the website You + 92. It is meant to provide some information and tools to move forward respectfully,” Steve adds.

The slogan “Small steps can lead to big change” on the You + 92 website’s homepage sets the tone for the business reconciliation roadmap. The video featuring Call to 92 Committee Chair, Joel Pedersen, a member of the Fond du Lac First Nation and Founder of Fitness 2J2 and Security 2J2, explains that “for generations Indigenous people on the Prairies were deliberately excluded from participating in our community and economy.”

“You + 92 provides a TRC92 play book for small and medium size companies. And it’s also an opportunity to advocate on behalf of all members of the chamber and highlight the contributions of Indigenous organizations to Saskatoon’s economy, which reached $1.1 billion in 2021,” says Joel.

The roadmap provides many resources as part of its eight-step process, including: • Scan the Terrain • Identify Milestones • Equip Yourself • Learn the Customs • Engage Indigenous Suppliers • Onboard Indigenous Employees • Sponsor and Volunteer • Model the Way

Milton Greyeyes, a Member of the Muskeg Lake First Nation, Senior Relationship Manager at Farm Credit Canada, and Call to 92 Committee member, says that he has noticed an increase in the number of Indigenous-owned businesses in all industries, including the agricultural and agri-foods sectors, although there is still plenty of room for growth. And he has also seen the development of many business development parks by First Nations in and around Saskatoon. “Doing business with Indigenous people makes sense, it’s good news for the overall economy. It takes getting to know Indigenous people and making sure they are part of any business’ supply chain. But it can also go beyond that by locating a non-Indigenous owned business within an Indigenous business park. In that location it becomes even easier to get involved with Indigenous businesses, to connect, to interact with First Nations and Métis people and to learn from each other,” adds Milton.

The members of the Call to 92 Committee all agree that the work of the committee and the tools and events they are providing are only a start. They see their work as part of a process that will evolve as people learn more, collaborate and support each other more, and celebrate all businesses’ successes. For Todd Denzin, having opportunities to celebrate Indigenous businesses’ success and to feature Indigenous entrepreneurs is important. “Events like SREDA’s SOAR Awards are essential so young Indigenous people can see role models, and find mentors and coaches to help them get involved in business and share in the success in the future,” he says.

The members of the committee are leading by example. They advocate for the implementation of TRC92 within their respective organizations, sectors and beyond. “When businesses take steps to implement TRC92, they have the opportunity to help educate their employees and shift their thinking about the history of Indigenous people and the contribution they are making. Then, there’s a trickledown effect from employees to their families and their kids. We live by that at Morris Interactive and we help share that message. Conversations, partnerships and allyship are the path forward for all of us,” says Steve Atkinson.

Joel Pedersen’s own business illustrates TRC92 and he reports that “At Fitness 2J2 as an Indigenous-owned business, we open the doors for First Nations and Métis instructors and trainers who may not otherwise receive the opportunity for employment and meaningful experience. We create partnerships with non-Indigenous corporate and non-profit organizations. I’m proud to say that Fitness 2J2 is part of that Indigenous contribution to Saskatoon’s economy.” Overall the response to the work of the Call to 92 Committee and the You + 92 website and the tools it provides has been positive. The feedback they have received has been encouraging. The committee members recognize that there are still many growth opportunities as more people realize the things they didn’t know about Indigenous people and their eagerness to participate significantly in the economy. “We are helping raise awareness of the history and its shortcomings and the requirement to do better now that we know better. More people understand that implementing the TRC92 is not just the right thing to do, it’s also good business,” reckons Todd Denzin.