Companies urged to sign new corporate declaration tied to Indigenous reconciliation calls to action

The Story

Private businesses in Canada were encouraged to sign a new “Corporate Declaration” that commits organizations to strengthening their relationships with Indigenous Peoples and communities.

The declaration was developed by multiple companies and private entities, including Microsoft, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel and Teck Resources, in partnership with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.

The declaration is linked to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action no. 92, which directs the corporate sector to respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and apply them in company practices. The call includes meaningful consultation and obtaining free, prior and informed consent before proceeding with economic development projects.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s final report in 2015 included 94 Calls to Action. It concluded that residential schools were a central element of a state-backed policy of cultural genocide.

Between 1857 and 1996, 150,000 Indigenous children were forced to attend church-run, government-funded residential schools. The commission initially documented the deaths of 3,200 children, and experts at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation say the actual number could be higher as they continue to comb through millions of records.

The commission’s Calls to Action also urged Canadians, industry and governments to improve relations with Indigenous people, including through reforms to the child welfare system, improved access to education and efforts to promote and revitalize Indigenous languages.

The Corporate Declaration was described as more than a one-time pledge. Signatories commit to learning and understanding Indigenous histories, engaging and collaborating with Indigenous communities, investing in their development and tracking progress. There is no fee for private-sector organizations to sign.

Victoria Grant, a consultant who helped draft the declaration, said she sees it as a way to bring people together and noted that it aims to support businesses seeking a path forward.

Stephanie Scott, executive director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, said private companies have influence over economic participation and workplace culture and that the declaration provides a practical way for companies to act, learn and demonstrate meaningful progress over time.

In a joint statement, former Truth and Reconciliation Commission co-chairs Wilton Littlechild and Marie Wilson described the declaration’s launch as a step forward and said they are following it with “great interest and appreciation.”