Samuel Group Publishes Company-Wide Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan

In recent years a greater national awareness of the responsibility of all Canadians, their businesses, and their governments has emerged, focused on progress through reconciliation.

The Samuel Group of Companies, in line with the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC), understands that the private sector has a social responsibility to advance meaningful reconciliation with the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples of Canada. Today, the Group is proud to publish its first company-wide Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which will inform all corporate activities throughout the 2022 to 2025 business years. It will apply to each subsidiary organization within the Samuel Group, including Samuel Associates, Samuel Technologies, Samuel People, and the Policy Insights Forum.

Developed in consultation with the Group’s Indigenous business partners at Millbrook First Nation, the RAP includes an original land acknowledgement that will be used at company events and initiatives, in addition to four actionable pillars designed to build partnerships and awareness, promote the Indigenous economy, and foster Indigenous youth leadership.

The Samuel Group recognizes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and educates its employees on the First Nations principles of OCAP^®: Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession, as developed by the First Nations Information Governance Centre (FNIGC). The Group promises to use and share data equitably, respecting Indigenous communities' rights to information sovereignty.

The Indigenous RAP further builds on the Samuel Group’s April 2022 Memorandum-of-Understanding (MOU) signed with Millbrook First Nation to collaborate on business and economic development opportunities. The Samuel Group envisions a key role for Indigenous peoples in creating a more robust, more interconnected economy and is committed to genuine engagement and sincere interaction with Indigenous organizations in accordance with non-discrimination principles and the Group’s Code of Ethical Conduct policy. The RAP will be updated and renewed to align with the national reconciliation agenda as it progresses.

The future success of our communities will be anchored in relationships based on shared trust and mutual respect. The Samuel Group is committed to advancing the reconciliation process of history, culture, community, and commerce between our organization and the Indigenous peoples of this land for generations to come.

To contact Samuel Group regarding your organizations interest in developing an Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan, please email our team at info@samuel.associates.