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A recent (VRCA) webinar series is tackling the big issues facing construction’s role in Indigenous reconciliation.

president and principal Will Pauga and Indigenous relations and business development consultant Sam Brezden both addressed ways to meaningfully approach reconciliation and connect with Indigenous communities and businesses in the second VRCA Bridging Perspectives webinar series, titled Building Stronger Partnerships.

The webinar participants said reconciliation has seen progress in recent years but there are still obstacles to overcome.

“I would say one of the biggest roadblocks is having leadership in companies understand that it starts with education. Whether people feel like they’re forced to start a relationship or really want to do the right thing, education is so key to understand where Indigenous people are coming from,” Brezden said. “Getting past the stigma of Indigenous people wanting a handout is huge, (as is) having companies understand they just want a genuine partnership from the get-go and not get consulted after a project has begun.”

Pauga cited the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 92 Calls to Action document, highlighting statements on the need for equitable access for economic development involving Indigenous people as well as gaining long-term sustainable benefits from training initiatives.

“There are different forms of reconciliation. There’s cultural, economic and social. In our reconciliation action plan we address each one of these,” he said. “Culturally you have to realize there were a bunch of things that were taken away from First Nations, language for one…and that’s how you assimilate a culture, you take away the things that are important to them.”

Pauga pointed to his own Māori heritage and said in the case of New Zealand, which began reconciliation efforts several decades before Canada, “(the Māori) realized their language is a treasure and it was presented that way. It’s now taught in schools. It was brought back as a way to assimilate the culture in all government departments.”

He also said consultation is required with Indigenous people before projects can take place on their land because “if there’s going to be a cost to it, there has to be a benefit.”

Both Pauga and Brezden said reconciliation efforts start internally, with Pauga saying some people didn’t even know what residential schools were or their past and present impact on Indigenous people. The last residential school in Canada was closed in 1996.

“That’s often how I open a discussion, ‘What were you doing in 1996? I bet you remember, and this was happening in your backyard,’” Brezden said.

“Once they understand what we’re reconciling for, then they’ll understand why it’s been put in place,” Pauga said.

Brezden also noted reconciliation as a term means something different to each community.

“Each community has a different history when it comes to engaging with the private sector, so it gets a bit tricky because not every community wants to participate in natural resource projects or has massive development on their land,” she said. “It’s about going back to that education piece and listening to that specific community and listening to what their interests are as far as partnerships go.”

Brezden also said the majority of communities want to participate in economic development, but they want partnerships, not for someone to “just knock on their door when it’s time to tick a box and send them a cheque for five per cent.

“They want to be engaged with when you’re starting to think about these projects not after they’ve already started and all of a sudden you’ve been told you have to engage with them. They want to be part fo the conversation because economic development is at the forefront. They can’t pay for things that they’re lacking in their community whether it be health care, education, revitalizing culture and ceremonial language…they need money to do that,” she said.

The third VRCA webinar is on Tuesday, March 26, at 12 p.m. PT, and the theme is Integrating Indigenous Practices in Construction.