Profile Stories

BUSINESS

RECONCILIATION IN ACTION

By Véronique Loewen

Business leaders across Saskatchewan are taking the Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action #92 to heart. They are learning about the history of Indigenous people, their culture and customs. They are finding ways to better understand and address the challenges that Indigenous people and organizations might encounter in the business world. They are creating opportunities to increase Indigenous people and businesses’ participation within their sectors. They are contributing to the education and training of First Nations and Métis individuals. They are becoming allies in support of the full participation of Indigenous people in the sustainable economic development of their communities, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and beyond.

The organizations featured here are all demonstrating business reconciliation in action.

Ethical Digital’s Indigenous Women in Tech Research

Katrina German’s digital marketing agency Ethical Digital has a wider goal than building accessible websites. They also want to change the trajectory of the internet.

When Katrina realized that the voice of Indigenous Women was missing in the tech world, she took action. “Tech is in every part of society, it’s a reflection of our society, yet there aren’t many Indigenous women involved. I want to understand why they aren’t participating and see what we can do to change that,” states Katrina.

With the goal of increasing Indigenous women’s participation in Saskatchewan’s tech sector, Katrina applied for a grant from Women and Gender Equality Canada to conduct in-depth research to identify the barriers to their entry in the sector and develop programs to help them get started and remain in tech. Katrina explains, “We have assembled a research project team and intend to conduct interviews with over 100 Indigenous women through post-secondary education institutions such as the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, First Nations University and other community organizations. And we are also interviewing tech companies to gather their perspective and experience related to women in this industry.”

With a two-year research plan, Digital Ethical also relies on the experience of business leaders along with subject matter experts assembled in an Advisory Committee to share their knowledge, provide pragmatic perspectives and make recommendations to ensure the delivery of a well-rounded project and its related programs. “We really need the tech community to rally behind this research so we can improve. We know that tech companies really want to be more diverse and inclusive, but they don’t always know how. With this research and the programs we will develop from it, we will be able to share our findings so others across Canada can contribute to increasing Indigenous women’s participation in tech,” adds Katrina.

For Katrina and her Ethical Digital team, this project goes beyond responding to the Reconciliation Call to Action #92, it is about “changing the trajectory of the internet” by making it more respectful, equitable and inclusive.

www.ethicaldigital.ca

IMII and Morris Interactive’s Innovative Digital Training Responds to Call #92

In keeping with its member companies’ (BHP, Cameco, Mosaic and Nutrien) commitment to advance their digital transformation and to strive to have a workforce representative of the communities near which they operate, the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) located at Innovation Place in Saskatoon issued a call for proposals for the development and delivery of an innovative digital training course tailored for Indigenous People and potash mining. Morris Interactive answered the call. “The initial $145,000 project led to the development of the core curriculum and its implementation, which became known as the Digital Transformation in Potash Mining: Cowessess Edition,” says Al Shpyth, IMII’s Executive Director. Elders, scholars and knowledge-keepers to advise and review the curriculum to ensure that its content was respectful of Indigenous culture, offered an Indigenous lens, and was delivered in a good way,” explains Mathew Cey, CEO of Morris Interactive.

“The relative proximity of Indigenous communities to the mines and Chief Cadmus Delorme’s leadership contributed to the development of a strong partnership for the delivery of this program. Together we could envision a path to success. This partnership aligned with our pursuit of truth through reconciliation and the call to action #92 around economic development,” adds Mathew.

On January 10, 2022, the Cowessess Edition of the training program launched with twelve participants, members of various First Nations across Saskatchewan, including several from First Nations in the Qu’Appelle Valley, and in particular from the Cowessess First Nation. Over eight weeks they received classroom instruction, including automation skills training using high-end gaming computers, potash mining information sharing, and mine-ready resume building and interview skills among many courses. The students also participated in a two-week on-mine-site training session at Mosaic’s K1 and K2 mine sites near Esterhazy, during which Mosaic arranged to house them locally to reduce the distance they would have to travel each morning. “Our goal was to deliver a training program that effectively prepares Indigenous students to start and sustain meaningful careers in the potash industry. We sought First Nations This first edition of the program was developed specifically for potash operations, however Al is prompt to indicate that “it can be adapted to other minerals, such as uranium and delivered in partnership with other Indigenous groups and academic institutions.”

Reflecting on the success of this first iteration, Mathew concludes that, “There is a demand to continue to deliver this program across the province with different mines and First Nations and Métis Nations. And there is also interest from multiple industries to adapt the curriculum for employment and industry development in partnership with Indigenous communities.”

www.imii.ca www.morrisinteractive.ca

miEnergy North America, a Proud First Nation Partnership

After building renewable energy projects for both the Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation and the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) representing nine First Nations, miEnergy had established a sustainable relationship with both Indigenous organizations. “In 2020 MLTC and Mistawasis expressed a desire to be involved in the renewable industry. Given our existing positive relationship, it was a logical path forward to partnership,” says Kevin Bergeron, miEnergy’s President & CEO.

miEnergy has the expertise providing utility, residential, agricultural and commercial solar and geothermal energy systems and turnkey power production projects. The First Nations are committed to invest meaningfully in their communities through innovative energy solutions that are not only environmentally sustainable, but also provide local jobs. “The launch of miEnergy North America in 2022 fits deeply with First Nation peoples’ strong held notions of combining economic and environmental sustainability, and ultimately allowing for the growth of sustainable communities,” adds Kevin, who is also President of miEnergy North America.

miEnergy North America’s engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services are part of one of the fastest growing industries in the world – renewable energy. Kevin explains that they are “committed to reducing reliance on non-renewable energy and helping communities transition to community-owned power sources and economic drivers.”

“Through our EPC services, we are helping Indigenous communities and companies that want to participate in the renewable energy sector. We help them save large amounts of utility costs, create lasting community foundations through clear economic and employment benefits, and maintain environmental stewardship leadership through reduced CO2 emissions.”

In doing their part to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action #92, miEnergy North America is prioritizing projects that contribute to the creation of commercial partnerships and the development of economic opportunities for Indigenous people and communities. “This new business is a strong statement of reconciliation by each of the partners through this commercial enterprise, and it demonstrates the partners’ joint commitment to a cleaner, greener environment and society,” concludes Kevin.