June is National Indigenous History Month. A time to celebrate the heritage and achievements of Canada's Indigenous people. And, also a time to advance, protect, and support Indigenous people and communities within corporate Canada.
If you haven’t already, take the time to read the Truth and Reconciliation report and understand the 94 calls to action made by the committee. Here are the specific calls to action for businesses:
92. We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) 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:
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.
We are actively working to fulfill these calls to action.
As a PAR committed company with the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, this year, we'll complete the first phase of Aboriginal education across our company. We actively advocate and support the advancement of Indigenous people in the trades and construction industry. And, we will continue to find new was to apply the UNDRIP framework within our organization.
In honour of National Indigenous History Month, we have donated to the Dylan French Memorial Scholarship Fund to help youth from the Homalco First Nation in Campbell River pursue a career in the trades.