Indigenous Procurement for Canada’s Future

Did you know that by practicing Indigenous procurement your business can uphold the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for the corporate sector?  With rising costs  imposed on goods and materials at the border, Canadian businesses now have an added interest in sourcing their products, services, and suppliers locally. By including Indigenous businesses in your purchasing decisions, you are making sustainable steps towards a diverse and inclusive economy.  

In this article, we’ll discuss how Indigenous procurement directly impacts the economic, social and environmental future of Canada and how your organization can create opportunities to support Indigenous business owners within your own supply chain. 

Why your procurement choices matters

Your purchasing choices make a difference. Here are five  reasons why supporting Indigenous-owned businesses makes a huge social and economic impact:

• Closes wealth and capacity gaps. Engaging Indigenous businesses supports their development, strengthens their ability to compete in diverse markets and contributes to sustainable wealth generation within their communities.
• Directly supports reconciliation. When your business buys from these entrepreneurs, it directly supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, including Action #92.
• Supports communities. Money spent with Indigenous businesses supports job creation and skill development, creating a ripple effect across the business, its employees, and their families
• Builds community resilience and tradition: Successful Indigenous businesses play a key role in helping to upkeep Indigenous traditions and culture in society, by showcasing and sharing Indigenous stories, practices, and innovation.
• Supports sustainability. Many Indigenous entrepreneurs build and operate their companies based on the traditional values and practices of their culture, which   places respect for the land and the people at the forefront. 

Indigenous procurement in action

A recent example of how Indigenous procurement can create a positive ripple effect within the community was when playoff hockey took over Winnipeg, MB, and the Winnipeg Jets hockey team purchased their 2025 playoff towels from Dreamcatcher Promotions, an Indigenous-owned company. They were the first Indigenous-owned business to supply the NHL with playoff towels.

To meet demand, Dreamcatcher Promotions began printing 7,000-8,000 towels each day for an entire month and sourced local materials from Manitoba suppliers. At the rate of supply, Dreamcatcher Promotions was able to advance local Indigenous entrepreneurship within the province. “A lot of businesses are coming to us now, saying I didn’t know you had the capacity,” said Michelle Cameron, owner of Dreamcatcher Promotions  “But it has gone beyond, now it’s inspiring the Indigenous community.”

Challenges of Indigenous procurement 

While it may seem easy on paper to support Indigenous owned businesses, the reality often presents a few challenges to overcome:

• There is still limited awareness and understanding of Indigenous business options. Your company will need to do some research to find relevant Indigenous suppliers.
• Procurement processes can be complicated for Indigenous businesses to participate in, meaning they often miss opportunities. 
• Building trust with any new supplier takes time, no matter the kind of business, but this is especially important for Indigenous businesses and change won’t happen overnight.

How your organization can take meaningful action

Your organization can take meaningful steps towards overcoming these challenges. One foundational element is to integrate Indigenous procurement commitments into your procurement policy and communicate this policy to all departments in your organization. 

• Support Indigenous culture by building relationships with local communities and councils. Sponsor events, and donate your time and resources to help them better their communities.
• Simplify your RFP process to make it easier to do business with Indigenous-owned businesses and entrepreneurs. Reduce procurement barriers by considering set-asides, simplifying requirements, and unbundling contracts.
• Partner or consult with organizations that support Indigenous business development. This includes the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) and the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC Supplier Certification).
• Source from suppliers with a majority Indigenous leadership and control to ensure meaningful economic participation and impact.
• Encourage all suppliers to support reconciliation by asking how they uphold Indigenous rights and engage with Rightsholders.

Supporting equality, inclusion, and reconciliation

Supporting reconciliation is our duty as Canadian businesses and citizens. Taking meaningful action and setting realistic goals can help your business thrive while supporting Indigenous businesses and their communities. 

At Reeve Consulting, we can help businesses advance truth and reconciliation efforts by creating opportunities and building relationships with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit entrepreneurs.

Our work proudly aligns with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) principles, reducing barriers to Indigenous participation in public spending.

Let us help you create more sustainable procurement solutions within your business. Get to know the faces behind Reeve Consulting and contact us today.