Truth & Economic Reconciliation
Committed to supporting Indigenous success
Committed to supporting Indigenous success
At the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, we know that all of us have an important role to play in advancing Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Call to Action 92 calls on Canada’s corporate sector and business community to advance reconciliation, and we are humbly learning and expanding our work.
We are committed to using our voice to amplify Indigenous voices, celebrate achievements and progress and advocate for systemic change.
Land Acknowledgement
In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika, Kainai, Piikani First Nations, the Tsuut’ina and the Stoney Nakoda, which includes the Chiniki, Bearspaw and Goodstoney. Calgary is also home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government of the Métis Nation within Alberta Districts 5 and 6, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta.
Calgary, and the confluence of the Bow and Elbow in particular, called Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina and Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, was a central trading route for Indigenous communities for centuries. This land has always been a gathering place. As the Chamber, the convenor of our business community, we vow to continue this land’s long-standing legacy of coming together, and as we seek to advance commerce in Calgary, we commit to carry forward the Indigenous values of interconnectedness, reciprocity and shared prosperity in all that we do.
Resources
Land Acknowledgements
Calgary Foundation: Why land acknowledgements matter.
Truth & Reconciliation
CBC: Watch “Namwayut: we are all one,” a short video on Truth and Reconciliation in Canada.
Indigenous histories in Canada
University of Alberta: Free, online course that explores the different histories and contemporary perspectives of Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Indigenous histories in Alberta
Government of Alberta: Learn about Indigenous history in Alberta.
Calls to Action
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Understand Canada’s path forward and the role we each play.
Indigenous lands
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: View an interactive map of where Indigenous territories, treaties and languages have been. You can also find out if you live near a former Residential School site.
Treaty 7 toolkit
Calgary Foundation: Treaty 7 Ally Toolkit.
Reconciliation toolkit
Canadian Race Relations Foundation: Reconciliation toolkit for business leaders.
The Indian Residential School Survivor 24-hour crisis line
This line has been set up to provide support, including emotional and crisis referral, for former Residential School students.
Upcoming events
Throughout the year, we host events featuring Indigenous speakers, addressing Indigenous issues, and supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and professionals.
Our Truth and Economic Reconciliation Framework
To guide our ongoing work, the Calgary Chamber, in partnership with our Indigenous Advisory Circle, comprised of over 25 Elders, entrepreneurs and community leaders, has developed a Truth and Economic Reconciliation Framework.
We humbly thank the Elders, Indigenous entrepreneurs and professionals, including through our Indigenous Advisory Circle, who informed our framework and understand the Chamber’s role in addressing ongoing systemic challenges and advancing reconciliation.
The framework is grounded in truth and learning, and is focused on two key priorities:
- Supporting Indigenous people and communities by reducing barriers to the Chamber and other key business resources for Indigenous entrepreneurs.
- Ensuring the perspectives and wishes of Indigenous people and communities are fairly represented on key government policies by leveraging our platform to amplify Indigenous voices and advocate for an inclusive economy.
Our journey
Dating back to 1891, the Calgary Chamber of Commerce was established just 14 years after the signing of Treaty 7.
As the hub for commerce, we acknowledge that the Calgary Chamber may have contributed to the long history of systemic injustices endured by First Nations communities, despite not having records to fully understand our own history.
In 1979, the Calgary Chamber established the Aboriginal Opportunities Committee to advance reconciliation in the business community. This Committee was the longest running group of its kind in Canada, bringing together Indigenous community members with the broader Chamber membership to create systemic change. Through various changes at our Chamber and the COVID-19 pandemic, this committee was disbanded.
Our reignited commitment
In recent years, we have reignited our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, vowing to bring a more consistent and intentional approach to our efforts, including:
- A cross-departmental Staff Working Group to ensure consistency and integration across the organization.
- Executive-level accountability for our economic reconciliation work to ensure accountability.
- Staff initiatives to learn about reconciliation and our history, including the KAIROS Blanket Exercise.
- Annual events highlighting and advancing Indigenous entrepreneurial success.
- Reintroduction of the Indigenous Entrepreneur Award in our Small Business Week.
- Strengthening our policy focus on economic reconciliation by advocating for systemic changes that improve Indigenous entrepreneurs’ access to capital, procurement opportunities and grid connectivity.
Explore our recent work in this area
The Chamber is committed to highlighting and addressing the ongoing systemic barriers facing Indigenous entrepreneurs and professionals, including through public policy. We also highlight the importance of key events, notable dates and opportunities for bridge building between the business community and Indigenous community members.
Pillar Partner
Truth and Reconciliation Pillar Partner
The Calgary Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome Keyera as our new Truth and Reconciliation Pillar Partner. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to building an inclusive economy by supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and professionals. Keyera has sponsored 25 Chamber memberships for Indigenous entrepreneurs, eliminating cost-related barriers and offering networking opportunities, advocacy support, business resources, and peer-to-peer connections.
Moose Hide Campaign Day
The Moose Hide Campaign is a powerful grassroots movement dedicated to ending violence against women, children, and all those along the gender continuum. Founded in 2011 by Raven Lacerte and her father Paul during a traditional hunting trip, the campaign began with a simple yet profound act: using moose hide as a symbol of commitment to protect and respect women and children.
Indigenous grants
Here is a list of grant opportunities available to businesses that contribute to Indigenous communities or are owned by Indigenous peoples.
Truth and Reconciliation Pillar Partner:
If it matters to you, it matters to us
We are your champion at the table with government – let us know what’s impacting you and your business.
