Indigenous Relations

At MCW, our aim is to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships grounded in trust, respect, and transparency. This commitment extends to equal and inclusive engagement with Indigenous Peoples throughout Canada.

As we begin our journey towards economic reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and in response to Call to Action #92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, we acknowledge the traditional, treaty and unceded territories of all Inuit, Métis and First Nations Peoples who call this land home and thank them for the privilege to live, work and play in their territory.

What is Reconciliation and Why is it Important to MCW?

Reconciliation holds a diverse meaning based on individuals, contexts, and relationships. It embodies listening, forgiveness, acceptance, and understanding. At MCW, we aim to create environments required to live, work, educate, plan and play. To achieve this, reconciliation is crucial. It serves to restore disrupted relations and aligns with our commitment to rebuild trust, promote cooperation, and foster respect on an individual, community, corporate, and national level. This forms our response to Call to Action #92 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

As part of our dedication to reconciliation, MCW is actively engaging in the development of our Indigenous Relations program. This initiative reflects our commitment to meaningful action and our collaborative effort to cultivate an environment that promotes inclusivity, understanding, and mutual respect. Our goal is to go beyond rhetoric and actively contribute to the healing process, ensuring that our actions align with the principles of reconciliation and support the empowerment of the Indigenous communities.

MCW Indigenous Relations Program Development

Our Indigenous Relations Program Development is four-fold and includes the following steps to act as our internal guideline:

Circular diagram with four sections: Assess, Plan, Execute, Manage. At the center, it states "Transparent Intentional Reporting." Each section describes associated actions related to Indigenous RAP development and fostering relations.

Our Progress so Far

We are excited to share our strides in fostering meaningful relationships and promoting diversity. These initiatives underscore our ongoing commitment to growth and positive engagement with Indigenous communities. We invite you to read our progress as we actively work towards building stronger connections and contributing to a more inclusive future.

In mid-2023, we developed a new corporate role specifically dedicated to creating and leading our Indigenous Relations Program.

We are proud to announce our membership in the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and the initiation of our Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) certification journey. This certification highlights our commitment to being a reliable business partner, cultivating a positive work environment, and actively contributing to the well-being of Indigenous communities.
We have partnered with NVision, an Indigenous supplier, to provide Indigenous Cultural Awareness training. This training is for all MCW staff, and we are exploring ways to share this knowledge with our project teams, partners, and sub consultants.
We are currently engaging internally with staff and externally with Indigenous Organizations to develop our Reflection Stage Truth and Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) which will guide us and embed the principles and purpose of Reconciliation. Once completed, this will formalize our Indigenous Engagement Policy as well as our Indigenous Procurement Strategy across all offices.