Coming Together, Making Progress: Business’s Role in Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples
Recommendations
- The Crown Taking the Lead
The federal government needs to establish the framework and timelines for a process for reconciliation with Indigenous peoples that seeks the perspectives of a broad range of stakeholders. Businesses (those with experience in working with Indigenous peoples and/or those that represent them) must be included in reconciliation discussions so they can contribute to the process through their experiences,
- Setting Priorities
The federal government needs to work with Indigenous representatives/governments on defining economic, rights and quality of life priorities, the strategy for achieving them and the timelines for doing so.
- Improving Canadians Education
The federal government–working with national Indigenous organizations and governments–should develop core educational materials in various media on the histories of Indigenous peoples as outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call-to-Action 92. Once developed, this material should be made available publicly to all Canadians in formats that can be adapted for different applications and regions.
- More Opportunities for Indigenous Entrepreneurs
The federal government should:
- Assist (through Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada) Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs to establish credit ratings so they can access affordable capital more readily.
- Help Indigenous communities document their resources (natural, human, financial, etc.)
- Review its financing programs/products targeted to Indigenous entrepreneurs to ensure they are effectively communicated, that applying for them is reasonably easy and that the terms and conditions do not prevent some, e.g., those located in remote areas, from qualifying for them.
- Canada’s Businesses must be indigenous Communities’ champions
Canadian businesses should:
- Publicly support government-funded projects and programs to improve Indigenous peoples’ quality of life.
- Examine Call to Action 92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Report to determine how they can integrate all or some of it into their operations