3 min read
A Brief History of Treaties in Canada
Treaty-making is not anything new in Canada. In fact, treaties pre-date the creation of the country and were instrumental in shaping what became known as the Dominion of Canada.
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4 min read
A Glance into Indigenous Incomes and Labour Force Representation
Many reports and data sets indicate that Indigenous peoples' incomes and workforce representation are on the rise; however, to get a full picture,...
2 min read
How Many Self-Government Agreements Are There?
We recently revealed the cover of Indigenous Corporate Training, Inc.’s Co-founder and President Bob Joseph’s new book, 21 Things™ You Need to Know...
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How Effective Indigenous Relations Contribute to Economic Certainty
Ensuring economic certainty in a proposed project with an Indigenous community is a key component of mutually beneficial and effective Indigenous...
4 min read
Threats and Opportunities of a Trade War for Indigenous Food Insecurity
During his campaign and upon taking office in January 2025, the President of the United States announced his intent to impose tariffs on imported...
2 min read
Indian Act and the Right to Vote
The right to vote, which most Canadians take for granted, was a hard-fought battle for Indigenous Peoples. In most parts of Canada, First Nations...
6 min read
5 Things to Know When Working with Indigenous Communities
It is essential when working with some of the hundreds of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities across Canada on industrial, social, and...
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...
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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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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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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,...
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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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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
2 min read
Reconciling Thanksgiving
...Reconciliation is about establishing and maintaining a mutually respectful relationship between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in this...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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.
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...
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...
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
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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.
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
4 min read
What is Indigenous Identity?
We identify ourselves in many ways - by gender, generation, ethnicity, culture, religion, profession/employment, nationality, locality, language,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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...