Weekly Report: Indigenous Economic Reconciliation in Canada
Week Ending September 1, 2025
This weekly report summarizes recent developments, initiatives, and challenges in Indigenous economic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. It draws on government reports, corporate actions, and policy updates to highlight progress toward equitable economic participation, self-determination, and partnerships. While no major announcements occurred in the past seven days, ongoing efforts from mid-2025 continue to shape the landscape, including government funding, corporate partnerships, and educational programs. Economic reconciliation remains a priority, aligning with Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Call to Action #92, which urges corporate Canada to support Indigenous economic self-determination.
Key Government and Policy Updates
- Federal Progress on TRC Calls to Action: As of March 2024, over 85% of the 76 federally-led or shared Calls to Action were well underway or completed, with a focus on reducing socio-economic disparities. In 2023–24, the government resolved 42 specific claims, providing $2.5 billion in compensation to First Nations, enabling community and economic development. Budget 2024 extended a pilot project responding to Call to Action 66, supporting Indigenous youth-led initiatives across 13 provinces and territories, reaching over 27,000 participants.
- Residential Schools Initiatives: The Residential Schools Missing Children – Community Support Fund provided $102 million in 2023–24 to 41 new and 78 existing initiatives for locating unmarked burial sites and repatriating remains, with over $216.6 million allocated since 2021. This work supports broader reconciliation by addressing historical injustices that impact economic stability.
- Atlantic Region Focus: In June 2025, Minister Sean Fraser met with Atlantic Indigenous leaders to emphasize economic reconciliation through Indigenous-led development, removing barriers, and investing in youth opportunities. This aligns with efforts to drive inclusive growth in key sectors.
- Alberta's Funding Stream: The Indigenous Reconciliation Initiative – Economic Stream opened applications on May 1, 2025, offering up to $100,000 per project for Indigenous-owned economic development. Applications close on September 15, 2025, with funding stackable up to 100% of eligible costs from government sources.
Corporate and Private Sector Initiatives
- CN's Reconciliation Action Plan: In June 2025, Canadian National Railway (CN) advanced its Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan by partnering with suppliers like Lodgelink, Remcan, CBS, and Davey Tree to boost Indigenous subcontracting, employment, and procurement. For instance, Remcan's workforce is 13.9% Indigenous, and CN has invested in Indigenous accommodations since 2024. This pillar emphasizes supply chain inclusion and mutually beneficial relationships.
- Ontario Chamber of Commerce Efforts: The Economic Reconciliation Initiative continues to foster connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses, highlighting the strength of Ontario's Indigenous economy. Partnerships with organizations like the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres aim to create employment opportunities in sectors such as trades and entrepreneurship.
- Educational Programs: Queen's Law launched the Reciprocal Economies Certificate in April 2025, an online program running June 26–27 to build skills in Indigenous economic reconciliation for professionals. It stresses equitable inclusion in development projects and the importance of free, prior, and informed consent.
Challenges and Critical Perspectives
- Data and Research Gaps: Discussions from the May 2024 Economic Reconciliation Roundtable highlighted the lack of robust data on Indigenous economies, exclusion of reserves from key indicators, and unreflected economic pressures in national averages. Recommendations include creating regular Indigenous economic outlooks and collaborating with Statistics Canada.
- Broader Critiques: A June 2025 analysis argues that an overemphasis on economic reconciliation may stall "true" reconciliation by prioritizing development over cultural and rights-based priorities. Historical data from 2022 notes that while Indigenous wages grew faster off-reserve, significant gaps persist, underscoring the need for sustained support.
- Progress Indicators: The 2024 Indigenous Economic Progress Report updates key indicators using 2021 Census data, assessing economic outcomes for Indigenous populations and identifying areas for improvement.
Outlook
Efforts in economic reconciliation are gaining momentum through targeted funding, corporate partnerships, and policy implementation, but addressing data gaps and ensuring Indigenous-led priorities remain essential. Upcoming events, such as the June 2025 panel on a decade of progress since the TRC Final Report, will likely provide further insights into future directions. For the coming week, monitor application deadlines like Alberta's IRI-ES and potential federal updates on loan programs. This report will be updated next Monday with any new developments.