Even though mining provides economic development opportunities, the industry must improve the way Indigenous communities are engaged. Luckily, many experts in the field are pushing the dial on Reconciliation. In this article, we share insights from Indigenous and non-Indigenous allies in the mining space.
In our second piece in this series, we highlight ideas that come from Indigenous leaders at the FNMPC Towards Net Zero by 2050 Conference and how they relate to current ESG practices. By taking a thoughtful look at who really drives and benefits from ESG initiatives, we can better understand how the worldviews and interests of those leading a corporate sustainability approach inevitably impact its outcomes.
What actually is sustainability? If we are to understand it in its truest sense, it means that any corporate sustainability strategies must be rooted in Reconciliation. In this, the first part in a series on the connection between Reconciliation action and sustainability strategy, the authors demonstrate why pillars of Reconciliation are so important to any corporate environmental action.
The history of residential schools created by the Canadian government for over 150 years has caused horrific impacts to Indigenous people. The effects of the intergenerational impacts continue to cause harm to Indigenous populations across the land we now call Canada. In 2009, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada began a multi-year process to listen to survivors, communities and others affected by the residential school system. The resulting collection of statements, documents and other materials now forms the heart of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
When Creative Fire started its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) practice in 2021, it was an easy fit into the company’s existing services.
“We had been encouraging and supporting our clients for years in their commitments towards reconciliation,” says Leanne Hall, CEO of Creative Fire. “As an Indigenous-owned company, we knew we had the expertise to help our clients bridge that gap within their existing policies and frameworks, so they too could heed TRC’s Call to Action #92.”
