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Flags representing children who died at residential school. Photo: Jason Woodhead, Flickr.

6 min read

Handling Tough Questions About Denialism

There isn’t a single public school in Canada or in the United States that features a graveyard out back next to the football field. [1] Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president, Union of BC Indian Chiefs My personal and professional goal has always...

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beaded poppy

2 min read

7 Posts to Read on National Indigenous Veterans Day

First commemorated in 1994, National Indigenous Veterans Day, November 8th, is a day to remember and recognize Indigenous contributions to military...

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Chief Willie Littlechild. Photo: michael_swan, Flickr

5 min read

Honourary Chief J. Wilton “Willie” Littlechild

Anyone aware of the work, life, and growing legacy of J. Wilton Littlechild will know that he is a significant leader in international Indigenous law...

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Rankin Inlet. Photo: Shawn, cdnav8r.

4 min read

The Significance of IRSSA-Recognized Schools in Indigenous Relations

Many educational programs and documents that recount the history of Indian Residential Schools in Canada will state that 1996 was the year that...

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Nuqo booth at the 2024 UBCM tradeshow

2 min read

The Role of Indigenous Procurement in Economic Reconciliation

In 2025, it will be a decade since the release of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Summary Report (June 2015) on the horrific...

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Credit River, Ontario. Photo: Mustang Joe, Flickr.

3 min read

Susan Robertson: Building Indigenous Relationships with RESPECT™

Simply crafting vision and mission statements isn't sufficient for an organization; they must ignite a powerful sense of purpose and steer efforts...

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hands together on a log representing community

3 min read

Indigenous Membership vs Citizenship: What's the Difference?

Long before the arrival of Europeans, confederation, and the imposition of the Indian Act, Indigenous communities were self-determining. They decided...

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Cree mothers with their children. Little Pine Reserve, SK. Photo: Library and Archives Canada, Copyright: Government of Canada.

5 min read

The Indian Act & the Politics of Exclusion

Indigenous nations enjoyed full autonomy over every aspect of their lives for millennia. But, that all began to change in 1867 with the introduction...

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forest fire

5 min read

Climate Change and Emergency Management for Indigenous Communities

The impact of climate change has been felt across Canada as unprecedented heat domes, atmospheric rivers, and forest fires ravage the landscape. It’s...

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woman holding a mask in front of her face

5 min read

Pretendians and the Indian Act

When we prepare an article for our blog, Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples®, we put considerable thought into the title - how will it...

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engineers in hard hats surveying with blueprints

3 min read

Heritage Conservation Act (HCA) Transformation Project

"cultural heritage resource" means an object, a site or the location of a traditional societal practice that is of historical, cultural or...

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10 Million - Thank you for making us your trusted Indigenous relations article source!

3 min read

Thank You for the Journey: Celebrating 10 Million Blog Views

As we embark on a new year, Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. (ICT) is humbled to share that our Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples® Blog...

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Longhouse at UBC Museum of Anthropology. Photo: Thomas Quine, Flickr

3 min read

Indigenous Self-Government Clarification

“Indigenous self-government” is a term that carries some misunderstanding. And as we’re likely to be hearing about it more frequently as Indigenous...

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hand on rainy window

4 min read

Higher Rates of Suicide - #8 of 8 Key Issues

The suicide rate among First Nations people was three times higher than in non-Indigenous populations between 2011 and 2016 in Canada. Among First...

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COVID medical mask hanging from a tree

3 min read

The Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Cultural Continuity

The COVID-19 pandemic could be the single greatest threat in this generation to the continuity of Indigenous cultures and the preservation of...

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Empty meeting room, table and chairs

2 min read

6 Tips on Meeting with Indigenous Leaders

If you are planning to schedule a meeting with Indigenous leaders of the community you want to work with, here are some suggestions you should keep...

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railroad

3 min read

The Constitution Express and Its Role in Entrenching Indigenous Rights

This is a brief look at an extraordinary, passionate, grassroots Indigenous movement in Canadian history that altered the direction of the...

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bandaid on knee

4 min read

Higher Rates of Death in Children and Youth - #7 of 8 Key Issues

Unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death in Canadian Indigenous children and youth, occurring at rates three to four times the national...

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Kingston Penitentiary, Kingston, Canada

4 min read

Higher Levels of Incarceration - #6 of 8 Key Issues

The incarceration rate of Indigenous peoples in Canada should be labelled a national crisis. The flaws in the justice system are insidious and...

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Need a Job sign and unemployed person

4 min read

Higher Rates of Unemployment - #5 of 8 Key Issues

Indigenous people are the fastest-growing and youngest segment of the Canadian population. And have been for decades. Based on the 2020 Canada Census...

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pennies

3 min read

Lower Income - #4 of 8 Key Issues for Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Indigenous Canadians earn about 70 cents for every dollar made by non-Indigenous Canadians, according to Canada's income data. This is a very...

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justice scales statue and Canadian flag

5 min read

Indigenous Title and the Doctrine of Discovery

Indigenous Peoples believe they have held title to their traditional lands or territories from the moment their Creators placed them on that land...

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quill and document

3 min read

Christopher Columbus and the Doctrine of Discovery - 5 Things to Know

The Doctrine of Discovery was used by European monarchies, beginning in the mid-fifteenth century, as a means of legitimizing the colonization of...

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Trevor Snider - Covenant House Vancouver

Trevor Snider: Commemorating a Reconciliation Ally

We first met Trevor, Supervisor of Donations Processing for Covenant House Vancouver, when he attended one of our Training Weeks. Trevor took the...

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nations flags

2 min read

UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

On June 21, 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) received Royal Assent and immediately came into...

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Houses on the Siksika Nation Reserve, Alberta - May 2, 2021.

4 min read

Inadequate Housing and Crowded Living Conditions - #3 of 8 Key Issues

Indigenous People face the worst housing outcomes in the country. Hon. Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations [1] To understand the...

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Asbestos mine,  Asbestos, Quebec. Photo: B*lly Frank, Flickr

2 min read

Free Prior Informed Consent and Duty to Consult

Looking back Back in 2014, when we published this blog post, Canada was wrestling with the notion of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) and the...

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“Sacred Creatures” by Stz’uminus artist John Marston stands at FortisBC’s Surrey office. Photo: Bob Joseph

2 min read

11 Community Outreach Tips for Indigenous Recruitment - #2 of Community Series

This is the second part of our series on best outreach practices for the recruitment of Indigenous Peoples. In the first part, Community Engagement...

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classroom with desks and chairs

5 min read

Lower Education - #2 of 8 Key Issues for Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Education is considered a human right in Canada. Yet, while Canada has one of the world's highest levels of educational attainment, the graduation...

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Little Grand Rapids, First Nation reserve in Manitoba, Canada

3 min read

8 First Nation Reserve FAQs  - #1 of 2 First Nation Reserves Series

A First Nation reserve is a tract of land set aside under the Indian Act and treaty agreements for the exclusive use of an Indian band (First...

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stethoscope

5 min read

Poorer Health - #1 of 8 Key Issues for Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Destabilizing Indigenous health The enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being...

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8 Key Issues for Indigenous Peoples in Canada and how they relate to the Indian Act.

3 min read

8 Key Issues for Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Eight of the key issues of most significant concern for Indigenous Peoples in Canada are complex and inexorably intertwined - so much so that...

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Nuxalk reserve. Photo: David Stanley, Flickr

2 min read

8 Things You Need to Know About On-Reserve Housing Issues

Did you know that adequate housing was recognized in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Did you know almost one in six Indigenous people...

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kitchen water tap

3 min read

A Snapshot of On-Reserve Clean Water Issues

In Canada, access to clean drinking water is considered a given. A given, I suspect, that is frequently taken for granted by those who enjoy clean...

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Tommy George Prince

3 min read

Tommy George Prince Military Medal and Silver Star Recipient

The story of Thomas "Tommy" George Prince, Canada’s most decorated Indigenous soldier, is inspiring and tragic. It also underscores the inequality...

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UN flags

4 min read

Honouring the 'Free' in Free, Prior and Informed Consent

In 2007, the UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Six of the 46 Articles that make up the...

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flags in front of the UN building

2 min read

Free, Prior, and Informed Consent - 8 Key Dates

The road to adoption of the United Nations’ Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDec) has been a rocky one for Canada. Canada did...

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Call to Action 92

4 min read

Why We Need to Stay the Course on Reconciliation

The report of my death was an exaggeration. Mark Twain Is reconciliation dead? Our trainers and staff frequently are asked this question, and their...

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hatchet in tree trunk

2 min read

Why We Shouldn’t Say 'Bury the Hatchet'

Since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released its report and 94 Calls to Action, we have seen significant progress for Canada and...

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Murray Sinclair

2 min read

Responses From Some Indigenous Leaders on the Historic Papal Apology

For many survivors of residential schools and their families, the Papal apology was all they hoped to hear, for others, it did not go far enough....

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Pope Francis

4 min read

Timeline of the Papal Apology to Residential School Survivors

On April 1, 2022, I held my breath as I am sure thousands of other Indigenous Peoples did while listening to Pope Francis publicly address the...

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Hello. Tân'si.  Shé:kon. G̱ilakas'la.

3 min read

International Decade of Indigenous Languages

The United Nations has declared 2022-2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. Many Indigenous languages across the world are in...

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3 min read

National Indigenous Peoples Day 2022

In·dig·e·nous: originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native. Occurring on June 21, 2022, for the 26th anniversary since its...

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Nawalakw Culture Camps

2 min read

Nawalakw - Cultural Survival in Action

Indigenous Corporate Training Donates $40,000 to Nawalakw Culture Camps Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. had the recent honour of speaking with...

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Indigenous women

4 min read

Resilient, Strong and Indigenous

By Bronte Phillips Changing their last names after marriage and sharing their bodies with their unborn children are two ways in which many women and...

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UNYA Paddletogether

3 min read

Become a Mentor to Indigenous Youth as a Part of Your Reconciliation Journey

If you want to be an ally to the Indigenous community, becoming a mentor at Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) is a great opportunity. The...

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2 min read

How Can You Politely Correct Someone Without Causing Guilt or Reaction?

Maybe you have recently taken one of our courses surrounding Indigenous Awareness and learned new facts about the history of Indigenous Peoples of...

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Family Day learning Indigenous languages

3 min read

How Family Day and Indigenous Reconciliation Go Together

As Family Day in a number of provinces across Canada approaches in February, it is important to remember the importance of family of all kinds,...

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Covenant House Vancouver

2 min read

Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. Donates $10,000 to Covenant House

In December of 2021, the winds of generosity rushed through the mountains and streams of British Columbia. Indigenous Corporate Training, the...

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Thunderbird totem, RBCM

2 min read

Scientific and Indigenous Perspectives

There has been much discussion in the scientific community about how and when Indigenous Peoples populated the Americas. One prevailing theory is...

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Private Patrick Joseph Augustine (Tjopatlig), Mi'kmaq traditional chief of the Big Cove Reserve, N.B., serving with the Black Watch of Canada

3 min read

14 Facts You May Not Know About Contributions of Indigenous Veterans

Did you know November 8 is National Indigenous Veterans Day? If you are new to the knowledge of the significant contributions of Indigenous veterans...

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Elders and Indian soldiers in the uniform of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Photo: Library and Archives Canada / PA-041366

2 min read

Indigenous Veterans: Equals on the Battlefields, but Not at Home

Indigenous Peoples in Canada have fought on the front line of every major battle Canada has been involved in, and have done so with valour and...

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The First Thanksgiving 1621, oil on canvas by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID cph.3g04961.

3 min read

The First Thanksgiving in North America Was Not Held by Europeans

The descendants of European settlers are brought up believing that it was their ancestors who celebrated the first Thanksgiving after surviving the...

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Truth & Reconciliation event

2 min read

Reflections on the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation

It is vital that the commitment to Truth and Reconciliation does not fade just a few weeks after the first National Day.

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orange shirt hanging in a tree

2 min read

National Day of Truth & Reconciliation, September 30

Orange is the New Symbol of Truth & Reconciliation The recent discoveries of 215 unmarked graves at a former Residential School near Kamloops,...

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2 min read

215 - A Poem by Bradley Crawford

Written in response to the 215 unmarked graves discovered in BC in May 2021.

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Kamloops Residential School

3 min read

10 Things You Can Do: Kamloops Indian Residential School

Trigger Warning: This article includes information about Residential School experiences In May 2021, the remains of 215 young Indigenous children...

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Sign from Wet'suwet'en protests. Photo: Flickr, Jason Hargove

2 min read

Hereditary Chiefs vs. Elected Chiefs: What’s the Difference?

The Wetʼsuwetʼen protests in 2019 and 2020 were widely reported on and sparked public interest around one of many misconceptions of Hereditary Chiefs...

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thumbs up and thumbs down

1 min read

First Nation Name Dropping - Good Idea or Bad Idea?

To name drop or not to name drop... that is the question. Many people assume that it is okay to name-drop as they move from community to community in...

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Storyteller by Dale Stonechild

2 min read

11 Things You Should Know About Indigenous Oral Traditions

Oral traditions retain the history of Indigenous Peoples by passing cultural information from one generation to the next. For Indigenous communities...

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Moccasin Identifier

1 min read

What is the Moccasin Identifier?

Initiated, designed, and led by Carolyn King and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, the Moccasin Identifier is a teaching tool and public...

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Navajo Code Talkers Memorial in Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza. Photo: Shutterstock

3 min read

Canadian Indigenous Code Talkers Remain Unacknowledged

The ability to send encrypted, unintelligible messages is crucial for keeping the wraps on military campaigns. The Germans, in the 1920s, developed...

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Pte. Tom Longboat buying a paper from a little French newspaper boy. June, 1917. Photo: Photo: Library and Archives Canada / 3194329

3 min read

Indigenous War Heroes - More Than a Few Good Men

When we think of Indigenous war heroes Tommy George Prince immediately and justifiably jumps to mind. But, there are many other Indigenous heroes who...

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Signing of the Treaty at Windigo, Ontario, 1930.

3 min read

What’s the Difference Between Historic and Modern Treaties?

We have received requests to provide a description of the difference between historic and modern treaties. This article attempts to answer the...

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2 min read

First Nation Protocol on Treaty Lands

In this little article, we talk about how to follow First Nations protocol on First Nations treaty lands. It can be customary between one First...

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teepee at Head Smashed In, Alberta

2 min read

7 First Nation Facts You Should Know

Here are seven First Nation facts plus one fun fact to add to your storehouse of knowledge. 1) Number of Nations There are over 634 recognized First...

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Indian corn

2 min read

Reconciling Thanksgiving

...Reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this...

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headdress Indigenous appropriation

2 min read

Why Cultural Appropriation is Disrespectful

Randomly plucking “popularized” images of a marginalized culture for entertainment or profit without respect for or an understanding of the culture...

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2 min read

This Hallowe’en Don’t Promote Cultural Appropriation

Definition: Cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements of one culture by members of a different cultural group, specifically the use by...

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country flags

4 min read

The UN Declaration and Consent-Based Consultation

The Government will move forward to introduce legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples before the...

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BLM protest

4 min read

Reconciliation Isn’t Dead. Here Are 94 Reasons Why

This year, 2020, has seen some difficult moments in Indigenous relations in this country. But, I don’t think it has been so dire that reconciliation...

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Residential School, 1890, Quebec. Photo: H.J. Woodside / Library and Archives Canada / PA-123707

4 min read

Back to School, Then and Now

This article includes a video of a conversation I had with my father Chief Robert Joseph, O.C., O.B.C., about his first day at residential school and...

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Orange Shirt Day - Every Child Matters

3 min read

What is Orange Shirt Day?

As of September 30th, 2024, this article had been viewed by 142,000+ people who wanted to learn about Orange Shirt Day. Thank you for your interest...

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Nisga'a raven rattle

3 min read

The Day I Met Joe Gosnell

First and foremost, on behalf of myself and my father, Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, O.B.C., O.C, I want to give my condolences to the Gosnell family and...

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Scrabble letters

3 min read

ABCs of Indigenous Awareness

We have over 700 articles on our blog so decided to see if we could put the blog to the test by having an article that applied to every letter of the...

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Coast Salish house post and Haida totem pole, White Rock, BC. Photo: Joe Mabel, Flickr.

4 min read

Meaningful Consultation: Happy Days or Project Delays

Recent events in Canada have shown that resource development projects can face extensive resistance from the affected Indigenous communities if...

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teepees in Ottawa

6 min read

The Red Paper: A Counter-Punch to the White Paper

There have been watershed moments in the history of Canada in which Indigenous leaders, outside of the courts, have stood up for their rights to the...

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7 min read

Celebrate 21 Indigenous Athletes for National Indigenous Peoples Day

Indigenous athletes often face tremendous difficulties beyond the rigours of training for their sport. They are frequently from geographically and...

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1 min read

A Brief Timeline of the History of Indigenous Relations in Canada

National Indigenous Peoples History Month is a time to acknowledge the history of Indigenous relations and Indigenous Peoples in Canada....

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Supreme Court of Canada building

3 min read

Frank Calder: The Man Who Moved the Mountain

This is another installment in our series on the people behind the transformational court cases that affect Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Please...

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diverse people with hands in a circle

2 min read

6 Steps to Create an Inclusive Environment for Indigenous Workers

One of the challenges to retaining Indigenous employees is that many work sites are not inclusive environments. Creating a working environment that...

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Métis dancers

3 min read

11 Ways to Virtually Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day

In National Indigenous Peoples Day: 10 Ways to Celebrate we have suggestions for celebrating this important day. Most of the suggestions involve...

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autumn leaves stream Ontario

2 min read

What is the Seventh Generation Principle?

The Seventh Generation Principle is based on an ancient Haudenosaunee (Iroquois)* philosophy that the decisions we make today should result in a...

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Kindred Spirits sculpture in Ireland. Photo: Gavin Sheridan - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0.

5 min read

The Choctaw and the Irish Have an Enduring Bond of Gratitude

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many stories have emerged about the amazing selflessness of the front-line workers, about patients who against all odds...

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Dr. Bonnie Henry quote

5 min read

Dr. Bonnie Henry, Elders, Reconciliation, and COVID-19

When Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the death of an Elder from Alert Bay, I was struck by her compassion, her understanding of the enormity of the...

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medicine wheel

2 min read

What is an Indigenous Medicine Wheel?

The circle, being primary, influences how we as Aboriginal peoples view the world. In the process of how life evolves, how the natural world grows...

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online meeting on a laptop

2 min read

Indigenous Relations in the Time of COVID-19

The world is a challenging and rapidly changing place right now and all indications suggest that it will remain as such for quite some time....

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water bottles

2 min read

Suggestions for Helping Vulnerable and Remote Indigenous Communities

Amidst all the dire news about the trajectory of global and local COVID-19 case numbers and mortality, hoarding of necessities, and fights in grocery...

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COVID 19 virus

6 min read

Indigenous Peoples and COVID-19

We are in uncharted waters these days as countries around the world scramble to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. While we are all at risk and all...

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white arrow on blue wall

3 min read

Skills Based Indigenous Relations Training Essential to Reconciliation

As providers of a suite of Indigenous relations training, we are frequently asked if we offer “blanket exercises.” The short answer is “no, we...

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Featured photo: Bob Joseph at the Aboriginal Opportunities Forum 2014. Photo: Tyson Jerry, courtesy of the Vancouver Board of Trade.

Vancouver Board of Trade Intercultural Presentation by Bob Joseph

In case you wondered what I (Bob Joseph) do for a living, here is a 45-minute video of my "Intercultural Presentation" delivered at the Vancouver...

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4 min read

Using the Inuit Perspective to Successfully Lead a School

Looking for an adventure five years ago, I travelled to a small Inuit community in Nunavut. I quickly discovered teaching Inuit children is a rich,...

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Family, Blackfoot Reserve, AB. Canada. Dept. of Interior / Library and Archives Canada / PA-040714

2 min read

Myth: Indigenous Cultures Were Primitive at Time of Contact

A widely held belief about Indigenous Peoples is that they were primitive cultures living in primitive conditions at the time of the arrival of...

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arrow pointing down

2 min read

Recession Proof Your Career With Indigenous Relations Training

In an earlier article, we took a look at why companies should protect their Indigenous relations strategy in a recession. In this article, we offer a...

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man in handcuffs

6 min read

Commercial Racial Profiling and Indigenous Peoples

As an Indigenous relations trainer, I strive to maintain a positive attitude that we are making progress on reconciliation. There are setbacks but I...

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Coast Salish Welcome. Photo: Vancouver 125

1 min read

Indigenous Peoples Are All the Same, Right?

A frequent misconception is that Indigenous Peoples are all the same in Canada but there is a clear diversity amongst Indigenous Peoples. Linguists...

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constellation through trees

2 min read

A Brief Look at Indigenous Star Names

As the clock runs out on the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages we wanted to take a look at the language around the stars and...

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red traffic light

2 min read

8 Basic Barriers to Indigenous Employment - #1 of 3

In this article, we look at the barriers - some tangible, some not - that maintain the status quo of exorbitant rates of unemployment amongst...

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Elder in regalia

2 min read

Indigenous Elder Definition

In this article, we provide the definition of Indigenous Elder and answer some specific questions people ask us in our Working Effectively with...

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Indigenous mask

2 min read

Respecting the Cultural Diversity of Indigenous Peoples

Anishinaabe, Métis, Coastal Salish, Cree, Cherokee. We have nothing much in common. We’re all aboriginal and we have the drum. That’s about it....

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meeting boardroom

3 min read

Weaving Reconciliation into Your Meetings

Land acknowledgements are increasingly present at the beginning of meetings in board rooms, lectures, classrooms, entertainment events etc. Land...

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British Columbian flag

13 min read

The UN Declaration and Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in BC

During the 2019 federal election, the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Declaration) was included in four (absent from the...

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Indigenous elders at the Opening Ceremony of the 2017 Canada Games.

3 min read

First Nation Elder Protocol

The following First Nation Elder protocol question popped up in our inbox and we are really grateful for the opportunity to respond. We appreciate...

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totem in Algonquin Park, ON, Canada

5 min read

6 Suggestions for Effective Negotiations with Indigenous Communities

Effective negotiations with Indigenous communities require your team to have a deep understanding of the community with which you hope to work. This...

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Dancing at a totem raising. National Indigenous Peoples' Day 2023. Photo: Doug Young

4 min read

Indigenous Knowledge and the Question of Copyright

Indigenous Peoples around the world are increasingly concerned about protecting their Indigenous knowledge (IK) and traditional cultural expressions...

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Canadian voting sign

2 min read

First Nation Election Facts

Prior to the introduction of the Indian Act in 1876, communities were self-governing and leadership was designated according to each community's...

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culturally modified tree

3 min read

Indigenous Culturally Modified Trees

tsuu aay ‘kiing jah Looking into the heart of the cedar For thousands of years, the people went into the forest for cedar. Among the living trees, we...

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white box

3 min read

14 Indigenous Procurement Best Practices Suggestions

The minds and hearts of most Canadians are opening to the severity of colonial practices that helped shape this country and how those policies...

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microphone

4 min read

First Nation Protocol on Traditional Territory

It can be customary between one First Nation and another to acknowledge the host Nation Peoples and their traditional territory at the outset of any...

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chairs in a boardroom

3 min read

Why an Indigenous Advisory Committee Is Good for Your Organization

Advisory committees can be invaluable to the success of a business, organization, or social enterprise. But not all advisory committees are created...

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foggy forest

3 min read

Reconciliation and Mosaic Forest Management Corp.

When a company takes the reconciliation initiative to provide our Indigenous Awareness training to the majority of their staff we believe their...

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Calgary

4 min read

Why Calgary Needs an Indigenous Gathering Place

It started with one question posed by Chief Robert Joseph at the Reconciliation Canada workshop held in Calgary, AB in 2014: “What does Calgary need...

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totem pole at sunset

2 min read

National Indigenous Peoples Day: 10 Ways to Celebrate

Every June 21st, thousands of Indigenous Peoples celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day (NIPD). This is a special day to acknowledge the unique...

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4 min read

National Indigenous History Month - Why It’s Important

June is National Indigenous History Month - a time for all Canadians - Indigenous, non-Indigenous and newcomers - to reflect upon and learn the...

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orange life-preserver

5 min read

Four Common Barriers to Reconciliation With Indigenous Peoples

In 2015, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) released its six-volume report on residential schools it brought the details,...

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Hun¿qum¿i¿num¿ alphabet poster, a dialect of Halkomelem, Coast Salish. Photo: George Mully / George Mully fonds / Library and Archives Canada.

3 min read

Indigenous Language Immersion

Indigenous languages the world over are in jeopardy. So much so that the United Nations declared 2019 the International Year of Indigenous Languages...

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office with orange wall

3 min read

3 Elements for Developing Reconciliation Strategies for Businesses

"Reconciliation is not an Aboriginal problem — it is a Canadian problem. It involves all of us." Senator Murray Sinclair If Canada is going to heal...

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buffalo

3 min read

Indigenous Fire Management and Traditional Knowledge

For the last few summers news reports were dominated by coverage of raging, massive, out-of-control wildfires. The fires devastated some communities,...

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logging truck

4 min read

Resource Revenue Sharing is Not a New Idea

Canada is renowned for the wealth and diversity of its natural resources and has long relied on royalties from extractive industries to contribute to...

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Kokanee salmon

4 min read

Making Science Relevant to Indigenous Students

If only we could understand how students make sense of their natural world, we could design a science curriculum so that science makes sense to all...

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Opening of the Xget'tem' Trail

3 min read

The Evolution of Indigenous Relations in the City of Kamloops

Tammy Robertson, External Relations Manager for the City of Kamloops has an ambitious goal: for the City of Kamloops to become a role model for...

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Indian pony relay race, 1914.

3 min read

The Role of Indigenous Games in Culture

Agility, strength, balance, reflexes, hand-eye coordination, accuracy, strategy, intuition, and patience. These are skills Indigenous hunters and...

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Hun¿qum¿i¿num¿ alphabet poster, a dialect of Halkomelem, Coast Salish. Photo: George Mully / George Mully fonds / Library and Archives Canada.

5 min read

Why Is It Important to Protect & Revitalize Indigenous Languages?

Of the most spoken languages in the world, English is third after Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. But English is the most commonly spoken second...

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Nisga'a elder. Photo: miguelb, Flickr

3 min read

What is the Nation Rebuilding Program?

In January 2019, a situation arose in northern BC that brought to the public’s attention the fact that some Indigenous communities have two forms of...

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Haida big house

4 min read

Indigenous Cultural Tourism Protocol

Cultural tourism is one of the largest and fastest-growing tourism markets globally. The urge to experience another culture or learn about another...

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simple calendar

3 min read

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: The Date Debate

In August 2018, the federal government announced it would declare a federal statutory holiday to mark the legacy of the residential school system....

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foggy unclear window

11 min read

Insight on 10 Myths About Indigenous Peoples

The definition of “myth”, according to the Oxford Canadian Dictionary, is “a widely held but false notion.” When it comes to the topic of Indigenous...

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talking stick

2 min read

Appreciating or Appropriating Indigenous Culture?

A reader recently asked us a question about talking sticks. We changed the question a little so as to preserve the confidentiality of the questioner.

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grave stone of Private Edwin Cook

2 min read

Edwin Victor Cook - Indigenous War Hero

Edwin Cook was born in Alert Bay, the home of the Namgis First Nations in 1897. He was the fifth of 16 children born to Jane and Stephen Cook. Jane...

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Ancient Nuu-chah-nulth masks, UBC, Museum of Anthropology. Photo: Thomas Quine, Flickr.

3 min read

What are the Elements of an Effective Indigenous Joint Venture?

Canada’s historical reputation is of a country where living conditions were good, and there were ample economic opportunities - a “land of milk and...

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football sitting on the field

4 min read

Let’s Not Make Reconciliation a Political Football

Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing. George Orwell, 1984

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Working Effectively With Indigenous Peoples® - In-Person Training

4 min read

Things to Know When Selecting Your Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action Trainer

It has been over three years (June 2, 2015) now since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada released its summary report and 94...

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Trans Mountain Pipeline. Photo: David Stanley, Flickr

5 min read

Meaningful Consultation with Indigenous Peoples

The announcement on August 30, 2018, that the Federal Court of Appeal had quashed the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion due, in part, to faulty...

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forest fire, Saskatchewan

6 min read

Forest Fires and Indigenous Communities

The severity and impact of forest fires dominate the headlines every summer. In 2016, the Fort McMurray, Alberta, wildfire invoked the largest mass...

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inukshuk in Whistler, BC

3 min read

Some Indigenous Protocol Examples

We are at an interesting juncture in Canada in terms of Indigenous relations. On the one hand, there is an awakening and awareness on the part of...

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Truth and Reconciliation display

2 min read

What Reconciliation Is and What It Is Not

For a very long time, mainstream Canadians were unaware of the horrors and conditions that 150,000 Indigenous children endured in the Indian...

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skins and pelts

4 min read

6 Guidelines for Projects Involving Traditional Indigenous Knowledge

Traditional Indigenous knowledge (TK) and traditional resources have been managed by Indigenous communities since time immemorial. The arrival of...

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diverse people teamwork

3 min read

Reactive vs Proactive Racial Bias Training

I was recently included in a conversation on CBC’s The Current about the efficacy of anti-bias training. The host, Anna Maria Tremonti had three...

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Pow wow dancers. Photo: Marc Lautenbacher, Flickr

3 min read

Why Continuity of Indigenous Cultural Identity Is Critical

We all belong to some form of culture and identify with that culture to varying degrees. Our understanding of our own cultural identity begins at...

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a gang of elk

4 min read

Rise of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in Environmental Assessments

There are more and more articles in the news about the value of Indigenous traditional knowledge being taken into account in climate change studies,...

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21 Things™ You May Not Know About the Indian Act front cover

3 min read

The 'Indian Act' and 'Bestseller' in the Same Sentence

I want to reflect on how the social and political landscape of Canada is changing. It may not be as fast as some of us would like, or as...

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phones

7 min read

9 Terms to Avoid in Communications with Indigenous Peoples

Language has the power to respect and honour, or, hurt and offend and that is particularly true when working across cultures. Within that frame of...

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Vancouver totem poles

3 min read

Debunking Misconceptions About First Nation Totem Poles

There are lots of lore and misconceptions about First Nation totem poles. In this article, we address six of the more common misconceptions.

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petroglyphs

3 min read

What Does Indigenous Knowledge Mean? A Compilation of Attributes.

What does Indigenous knowledge (IK) mean? That’s a big question because “there are approximately 370 million Indigenous people in the world,...

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4 min read

What are Gladue Reports?

Indigenous people account for less than five percent of the Canadian population, yet represent 25 percent of the total inmate population. Canada is...

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desks in a classroom

2 min read

Resources for Teachers of Aboriginal Students

Fern Perkins coordinates the Métis Education Enhancement Program for the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria and has taught Indigenous Education at...

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husky dog in snow

3 min read

Working with Indigenous Communities: Year of the Northern Dog Campaign

The abundance of dogs in both non-Indigenous and Indigenous communities in northern Canada is an escalating animal welfare issue. This article takes...

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totem poles in Alert Bay, BC, 1920

3 min read

Canada’s Complicated History with First Nation Totem Poles

Canada has a complicated history with the totem pole. Totems have been misunderstood, coveted, stolen, quashed, copied, and celebrated. The first...

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typing on a laptop

3 min read

Communications with Indigenous Leaders - Letter Writing Tips

When communicating cross-culturally there are certain sensitivities around the language used in the letter and expectations placed on the recipient...

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bright paint on hand

4 min read

What is Indigenous Identity?

We identify ourselves in many ways - by gender, generation, ethnicity, culture, religion, profession/employment, nationality, locality, language,...

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plant growing from old tree representing self-determination

2 min read

The Indian Act vs Self-Determination

In recent decades, there has been significant pressure to address historical Indian Act issues. That pressure has been imposed by the combination of...

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3 Rs on signs

3 min read

3 'R's of an Effective Indigenous Pre-Engagement Strategy

The foundation of meaningful engagement with an Indigenous community is trust. Earning that trust will take time, consistency, and transparency. The...

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IV pole and bag

3 min read

The Ongoing Impact of the Indian Act on Indigenous Peoples' Health

In nearly every country with an Indigenous population, and that includes some of the wealthiest countries in the world, there are disparities between...

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red maple leaf on wood deck

4 min read

A Look at Indigenous Relations in Canada for 2018 and Beyond

In 2017, Canada marked 150 years since its confederation. Whether to celebrate or not to celebrate was debated and discussed in the media, in...

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coins

3 min read

Why Canada Needs Indigenous Economic Reconciliation

Trade and specialization were common to First Nations in Canada and throughout the Americas in the pre- and early contact periods. Moreover, public...

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rock tower in stream

3 min read

Smudging to Indigenous Protocol - Our Top 10 Articles in 2017

In 2017, we had just over 816,000 visitors to our blog Working Effectively with Indigenous Peoples® looking for information on a wide variety of...

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I Love First Peoples shoebox campaign

2 min read

Shoebox Campaign Is an Opportunity to Connect With Indigenous Students

Sometimes it’s the simplest gestures that have the greatest impact. The Shoebox Campaign is one such example. If you are unfamiliar with the...

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radio microphone

2 min read

7 Not So Secret Advantages of First Nations Radio

By Juanita Muwanga Gimaa radio CHYF 88.9, which broadcasts from M'chigeeng First Nation, started as a dream of the late Carl Beam, an internationally...

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ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide

4 min read

ayisīnowak: A Communications Guide - A Cross-Cultural Collaboration

When the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Report was published in 2015 it revealed the reality of residential schools, the damage the...

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man in headdress by lake

2 min read

Why Are Indigenous Leaders Called Chiefs?

Definition: Chief (n.) c. 1300, "head, leader, captain; the principal or most important part of anything;" from Old French chief "leader, ruler,...

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construction worker holding a hard hat

2 min read

The Role of the Indigenous Employment Coordinator

...there is a growing number of IBAs signed between industry and Aboriginal communities that include a clear target for a number of employment...

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2 min read

First Nation Projects: Lack of equity? Not a Problem

Did you know that many, if not most, large projects undertaken in Canada are being done by proponents without any effect on their own balance sheet?...

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2 min read

What does traditional consensus decision making mean?

"The art of consensus decision making is dying. We are greatly concerned that Aboriginal people are increasingly equating ‘democracy’ with the act of...

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newspapers on a table

3 min read

Indigenous Issues Articles: Is It Time for Specific Headlines?

Although daily newspapers have covered Indigenous issues extensively, news organizations are being called upon to reach a higher standard. As Truth...

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woman hands typing laptop

3 min read

Some Resources to Help You With Indigenous Protocol

On October 1, 2017, as I listened to Jagmeet Singh make his acceptance speech as the newly crowned leader of the National Democratic Party I was...

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stack of books

1 min read

Two Examples of Indigenous Education Programs

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) Report and Calls to Action in 2015 brought some hard facts about residential schools to the...

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professional radio microphone

2 min read

The Importance of Indigenous Radio

By Olivia Marie Golosky When we think of the radio landscape in Canada, especially in the mainstream context, the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC)...

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Indigenous women

2 min read

7 Tips on Building Relationships with Indigenous Peoples

The quality of your relationship with an Indigenous community will be measured by the effort invested and the integrity of your team. You have to...

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lake trees and hill

2 min read

What Does Indigenous Connectivity Mean?

The worldview of many Indigenous Peoples includes the principle of connectivity - that everything in the universe is connected. The spirit world is...

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Cowichan

2 min read

Tips for Purchasing Authentic Indigenous Art

In Why Buying Authentic Indigenous Art is Important I talked about the cultural and economic impact knock-off art has on Indigenous artists and...

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Indigenous masks

3 min read

Why Buying Authentic Indigenous Art is Important

A newsletter reader sent us a message asking if we would write something about appropriated art. The topic of cultural appropriation is increasingly...

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totems

2 min read

Investing Effectively for Indigenous Peoples

Here's an article from a family relative who recently started Ki'mola Indigenous Capital a business that creates community wealth by investing...

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Plane at Victoria International Airport. Photo: Blake Handley, Flickr.

3 min read

Indigenous Relations at the Victoria International Airport

Airports - we all travel through them but how often do we actually ponder the Indigenous relations aspect of the operation? These transportation hubs...

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prison wall and fence

2 min read

Request for Indigenous Advisors for Citizen Advisory Committees

I recently received an email from Nicole Gareau, Presidente Comité Régional de Direction, CCC, who had read the article on Indigenous Corporate...

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Dene man in a birch bark canoe

3 min read

Indigenous Trade Networks Thrived Long Before the Arrival of Europeans

There used to be millions of us. Although there were no population counts, best estimates suggest that there were at least 40 million of us in the...

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Songhees Food Trucks

2 min read

Survey Results Show Strong Support for Indigenous Entrepreneurs

The Songhees Food Trucks feature West Coast cuisine & traditional Indigenous flavours. There has been a massive jump in Indigenous-owned and operated...

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Close-up of The Spirit of Haida Gwaii by Bill Reid. Photo: V.L., Flickr.

4 min read

The Duty to Consult Just Keeps on Evolving

The jurisprudence of this Court supports the view that the duty to consult and accommodate is part of a process of fair dealing and reconciliation...

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Canada Day parade

3 min read

Indigenous Peoples, Reconciliation and Canada 150

June is National Aboriginal History Month, and this year, the day after National Aboriginal History Month ends activities for Canada 150 begin....

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Tom Longboat. Photo: Canada's Sports Hall of Fame / Library and Archives Canada / PA-050294.

8 min read

National Indigenous Peoples Day  21+ Important Indigenous People to Celebrate

To celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 we have compiled a list of 21+ important Indigenous people from all walks of life. It is a...

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Dene children in hospital

4 min read

A Brief Look at Indian Hospitals in Canada

We would like to acknowledge that this article was framed from the research and writing of authors Maureen Lux (Separate Beds: A History of Indian...

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mountain climbing in Banff

4 min read

11 Challenges for Indigenous Businesses

All entrepreneurs face some challenges but not all entrepreneurs face the same challenges. Indigenous entrepreneurs face some challenges that those...

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woman grocery shopping

2 min read

Indigenous Racial Profiling by Retailers and Tips to Avoid It

Recently, in the media, there has been a discussion of racial profiling of Indigenous and other consumers. In this article we talk about the...

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pow wow dancer

2 min read

4 Phases of Indigenous Engagement

Indigenous engagement for your proposed project is so much more than 'getting to yes.' Your organization needs to understand that the goals of...

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hands with jewelery

3 min read

What You Need to Know About Indigenous Language Revitalization

Indigenous languages are struggling to survive. With the number of Indigenous language speakers on the decline, some of these languages are on the...

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ships at sunset

3 min read

The Impact of Smallpox on First Nations on the West Coast

The Bostonian Robert Kemp, on the brig Otter just north of the Queen Charlotte Islands in December 1810, reported that "the Natives are all infected...

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Orca and Thunderbird Bentwood Box - Bruce Alfred Photo: A.Davey, Flickr

4 min read

A Tribute to the Late Chief Beau Dick

Chief Beau Dick, or Gigame’ ‘Walas Gwa’yam, was born on November 23, 1955, and passed away, far too soon, on March 27, 2017. He was a world-renowned...

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Indigenous graffiti

2 min read

A Brief Definition of Decolonization and Indigenization

Decolonization Decolonization once viewed as the formal process of handing over the instruments of government, is now recognized as a long-term...

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gas pumps

2 min read

3 Things to Know about Alberta Carbon Tax Exemptions and First Nations

Carbon tax is a form of pollution tax. It levies a fee on the production, distribution or use of fossil fuels based on how much carbon their...

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woman stressed at work

2 min read

Aboriginal Lateral Violence in the Workplace

When working closely with an Aboriginal community there are many factors and layers of complexities to be considered, some of which are very apparent...

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Students and staff at St. Paul's Indian Industrial School, Middlechurch, Manitoba, ca. 1901.

3 min read

Was There an Upside to Residential Schools? Answer: No

"I speak partly for the record, but mostly in memory of the kindly and well-intentioned men and women and their descendants — perhaps some of us here...

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binders (one with label

2 min read

Developing Your Indigenous Procurement Strategy

A central finding of this research is that Aboriginal procurement is not the same as traditional supply chain management. Procurement from Aboriginal...

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Chief Dan George

6 min read

Reflections in 2017 on the 1967 Centennial Speech of Chief Dan George

As Canadians from coast to coast to coast prepare to mark Canada’s 150th birthday on July 1, 2017, I wanted to revisit and reflect on the late Chief...

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smudge bowl

2 min read

A Definition of Smudging

Sacred smoke created from burning medicinal or sacred plants is an aspect of many cultures and religions the world over. In North America, it is a...

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corporate cooperation

3 min read

Building Indigenous Community Capacity and the Duty to Consult

While the duty to consult is a hard-fought-for, constitutionally recognized component of resource project development, in reality, it can be an...

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books in a library

1 min read

Reconciliation and Indigenous Libraries in Schools

Education for reconciliation We call upon the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada to maintain an annual commitment to Aboriginal education...

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two men planning on whiteboard

3 min read

Why Pre-Engagement Research of Indigenous Communities is Important

There are many reasons for researching an Indigenous community but for the purposes of this article, we are talking about research in terms of a...

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arc welder

2 min read

What Is Indigenous Procurement?

Simply put, Indigenous procurement is the act of purchasing goods and/or services from an Indigenous-owned business. For example, our company,...

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donating-to-indigenous-organizations-shutterstock_3032008-743824-edited.jpg

2 min read

Reconciliation and Donating to Indigenous Organizations

December is typically a month in which many Canadians look for ways to provide some financial assistance to not-for-profit organizations that help...

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Land-O-Lakes butter. Photo: Mike Mozart, Flickr

2 min read

Why Are There Stereotypes About Indigenous Peoples?

Following every training session we ask learners if they would kindly take the time to fill in a survey about the training. We find these surveys...

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bottle filling line

5 min read

A Look at First Nations Prohibition of Alcohol

The Indian Act Prohibited the sale of alcohol to First Nations (1884 - 1985) Every one who by himself, his clerk, servant or agent, and every one who...

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