by Harold Calla
posted to the Winnipeg Free Press on Saturday, Mar. 22, 2025
While the ongoing threat of a tariff war makes Canadians rethink the structure of the country’s economy, there are some clear barriers preventing economic growth that we can address quickly. These include visible barriers to Indigenous economic growth.
Removing them will unlock the Indigenous economy and support Canada’s economic strategy. There’s a pressing need to make that happen.
Because of colonialism, Indigenous Peoples have been largely excluded from the mainstream economy. In recent decades this exclusion has stifled the development of Canada’s economy — to the detriment of all.
It’s beyond time to rectify this situation.
First Nations across the country want to grow their economies. Doing so will benefit not only Indigenous communities, but all Canadians.
From coast to coast to coast, Canadians want and need a stronger domestic economy, more diversified trade partners, and fewer barriers to sustainable development.
However, Canada has repeatedly lost major development opportunities when it failed to respect Indigenous rights and titles.
Fortunately, we also see examples of the power of getting it right.
The Indigenous-led economy has grown significantly in recent years. First Nations have shown that when we are empowered, when our rights are respected and we have access to the right financial tools, we create benefits that ripple throughout Canada’s economy.
Examples include the $1-billion purchase of Clearwater Seafoods by Mi’kmaq communities on the East Coast, the Haisla’s massive new Cedar LNG facility on the West Coast, and the over $6.5 billion of services that were procured from Indigenous businesses during the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline.
There is incredible opportunity in Indigenous communities and our traditional territories. Canada cannot continue to ignore their potential as economic drivers.
The path forward includes respecting rights and title, investing in Indigenous organizations, new mechanisms that support the capacity development of Indigenous governments, and ensuring Indigenous communities have access to the financing needed to buy equity positions in projects that align with their values.
We can also look to improve the regulatory process for project approvals so that Indigenous participation can expediate that process.
Doing these things will help clear the path to the final investment decisions that need to be made now.
In recent months, critical minerals have been a hot topic of conversation, as have the places where those deposits are found. These resources now have strategic value in global negotiations and the ability to support a green transition.
The good news is that Canada has its own sources of critical minerals and has made large investments based on their availability — such as the planned Volkswagen and Stellantis electric vehicle battery facilities.
The bad news is that very little has been done to turn these deposits into a reliable supply and gain the free, prior, and informed consent of the First Nations needed as partners on these projects.
We all want Canada to succeed in this new global reality and the choice before us is clear: we either find ways to invest and grow together, or we all stagnate and suffer.
Last month, I was part of a session at the Assembly of First Nations on the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, discussing with delegates the opportunities we have to exercise our economic rights. The appetite to take up these opportunities is strong in First Nations.
Communities simply want to see projects done in ways that provide meaningful benefit to our people and respect the lands that we steward.
We know the way forward.
This path will lead all of us to a more prosperous and independent future. But success will only happen through respect and shared prosperity.
We must all now double down on these values to realize the potential of the Indigenous economy, advance economic reconciliation, and keep the true north strong and free.
Harold Calla is the Executive Chair of the First Nations Financial Management Board.