Natural Resources Canada wanted to engage with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis partners about the Indigenous Forestry Initiative, which was started in 2017 but expanded significantly in 2023. The program expansion offered an opportunity to review key elements including the application process, eligibility criteria, and available funding. In addition, these conversations gave NRCan the chance to learn more about the people they serve and their needs.
KES developed an engagement strategy that not only answered the key program questions, but also helped:
- Gather distinction-based insights that will inform the next phase of the IFI renewal.
- Make the IFI more equitable, accessible, and aligned with Indigenous governance and stewardship priorities.
- Strengthen trust and collaboration between NRCan and Indigenous partners.
- Build a foundation for a program model that supports reconciliation, sustainability, and Indigenous-led forestry
Engagement Approach and Public Value
KES’s 7 Generations Engagement Planning methodology ensured that the engagement was inclusive, distinction-based, and reflective of Indigenous worldviews. The approach involved:
- Pre-briefings to confirm priorities, structure, and accessibility.
- Regional virtual dialogues that incorporated diverse Indigenous voices (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis).
- Youth and Elder open forums that emphasized intergenerational perspectives.
The process created a culturally safe environment for dialogue, integrating Two-Eyed Seeing, OCAP principles, and the Seven Grandfather Teachings, which collectively strengthened trust, respect, and ownership among participants. Our commitment to sharing back all the information we gather and the reporting we complete with that information with participants before finalizing any documents ensured that participants knew they had been heard, accurately represented, and carefully included in all conclusions and recommendations.
Overall Outcome
The engagement achieved its central goal: to reconnect the IFI with the values, priorities, and realities of Indigenous Peoples across Canada. It produced insights that will guide NRCan toward a renewed IFI that is more equitable, transparent, and responsive to Indigenous governance, environmental stewardship, and long-term reconciliation objectives.
Public engagement—anchored by KES’s respectful and distinction-based approach—proved essential to ensuring the process was not extractive but collaborative, trust-building, and transformative for the future of Indigenous forestry in Canada.
