‘Necessary active role’: corporate declaration of action adds initial signees

A model canoe took its maiden voyage Wednesday — into the arms of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation’s executive director.

Stephanie Scott and her team received the miniature wooden canoe during a ceremony at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg.

They also left with a freshly signed corporate declaration of action, where national companies pledged their commitment to reconciliation.

“Your commitment, your courage is so important,” Scott told a room of roughly 15 people in the Pavilion. “It is a very long journey that we’re all on.”

Michael Job, a managing principal with Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel, was the first signee. He’s been part of the organizing group behind the declaration, which was spurred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action.

A number of companies — including Sun Life and mining firm Teck Resources — have banded together over the past years to build the declaration. By signing, businesses commit to investing in reconciliation and reporting their progress.

Organizers plan to connect with signatories. The initiative is a way to bring firms together to discuss reconciliation and best practices, Job said.

“It’s nice to take a pause and celebrate all of those efforts consummating in this moment, but I think we’re all collectively cognizant … that there’s a lot more work to do on this,” he said after the ceremony.

Leith Wheeler is among the declaration’s initial funders. It’ll continue holding a spot in the leadership circle, Job said, declining to share how much money the company has spent.

It and Teck Resources both signed the declaration Wednesday.

Before pens appeared, Chief Wilton Littlechild — a TRC commissioner — addressed the crowd.

“I think in this coming decade, corporations will take a more active role — a necessary active role — to continue the advancement of reconciliation,” Littlechild said via video call.

The declaration centres around TRC Call to Action 92, which asks businesses to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework.

Wednesday’s event came as Canada looks to increase mining and major project builds. Consultation isn’t enough, Littlechild warned.

“We need to go that full journey of consultation for the purpose of obtaining free, permanent, informed consent,” he said.

He encouraged businesses to advance a call to action beyond No. 92.

Leith Wheeler teaches its staff about residential schools and colonialism; it’s part of onboarding and ongoing training, Job said. The firm manages accounts for at least 50 Indigenous communities nationally.

It tries to be proactive about meaningful consultation when working with clients, Job said.

Roughly a dozen entities formed the declaration’s leadership circle. Victoria Grant, an Order of Canada recipient who works with Indigenous organizations, headed the project.

Community Foundations of Canada helped with logistics.

Wednesday marked the transfer of the declaration to the Winnipeg-based National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Companies will be able to sign the declaration in person or online at corporatedeclaration.ca.

Work on the website is ongoing, Grant said.

Leaders are determining how they’ll follow up with signatories.

gabrielle.piche@winnipegfreepress.com