In 2015, the Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) released a report with 94 recommendations. The TRC engaged Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation.
Recommendation #92 asks the corporate sector and their leadership to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. The commission calls for meaningful consultation, long term sustainable opportunities from economic development projects as well as education and training for managers on the history of Indigenous people, intercultural competency, human rights and anti-racism.
What can your company do to support Truth & Reconciliation in Canada?
• Identify education opportunities with your staff. Where are your knowledge gaps?
• Make concerted effort to improve your Indigenous inclusion workplace performance and your engagement with indigenous communities, people and businesses.
• Determine how you will position your company’s response to Business & Reconciliation
What is Call to Action # 92
Business and Reconciliation
The corporate sector, in Canada, has been called upon 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. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:
i. Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with economic development projects.
ii. Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.
iii. Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
Articles
Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business guide
https://www.ccab.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Business-reconciliation-in-canada_WEB-final_AA.pdf
7 Ways to Incorporate Reconciliation into Your Business
https://animikii.com/news/7-ways-to-incorporate-reconciliation-into-your-business
Statement by Minister Bennett on the 5th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation final report
https://youtu.be/c0iuGsGGe2I
The NCTR
https://nctr.ca/
History of the TRC
https://nctr.ca/about/history-of-the-trc/