Tabatha Bull
President & CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
It was a little over a year ago that the remains of 215 children were confirmed at Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation in Kamloops, B.C. That news forced many in the country to face our true history and to begin to learn and understand the extent of the damage caused by generations of oppression suffered by Indigenous Peoples. Awareness of the past, acknowledging the harm inflicted, atonement for the causes, and action to change behaviour are necessary steps to make this country whole.
We must empower Indigenous voices by reflecting and acknowledging the past and building toward a future together. By establishing positive relations with Indigenous communities and businesses across the country, we move one step closer on the journey to reconciliation and to a prosperous economy for all. Reconciliation — it’s a word that we use so often that it feels fragile on my tongue. It’s a journey that each of us must take on our own and find our own way.
At Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, we’re focused on economic reconciliation driving business opportunities and advancing corporate social responsibility. We offer unique programs and services that help facilitate sustainable relations between First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples and the Canadian business sector.
Take time this month and throughout the year to learn our collective history and cultures, to listen to and empower Indigenous voices, and embrace the truth. This is an opportunity for us all to celebrate and recognize Indigenous contributions, cultures, languages, and especially the future prosperity of Indigenous people.
