Blog #9 Indigenous Engagement Part 1: What, Why and When

Anyone working with Indigenous people has likely come across the word “engagement.” In this blog, I share engagement insights I learned from my mentors that answer what, why, and when. In future blogs, I will address engagement insights related to who, where and how, the principles behind them, and pre-engagement preparation.

What: Indigenous engagement is the process of building respectful, meaningful relationships that form the foundation for collaborating with Indigenous peoples.

One engagement goal is to ensure that Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, and rights are considered and respected. [In that context, I use the word “consider” to mean “think carefully about (something), typically before making a decision” (see Story B6 in Walking Together, for a different meaning of the word “consider”.)] My mentors used stronger language. Engagement was not just about considering Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, rights, and interests, but was also about recognizing, respecting, accepting, and incorporating Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, rights, and interests as equal to one’s own.

Note that engagement is not the same as consultation. Consultation is a legal requirement. Engagement is a broader process to build relationships and encourage collaboration.

Engagement with members of Wawakapewin First Nation, at a community breakfast, northwestern Ontario, Canada, May 19, 2007.

Why: Engagement outcomes include relationships, shared understandings – including respect for Indigenous (Aboriginal) rights and treaty rights – respect for each other, established communication channels, Indigenous inclusion in decision-making, collaborations, and capacity funding, if needed, to ensure the community is able to process the reports and make informed decisions about the initiative (https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/4-phases-of-indigenous-engagement).

An example of collaboration: Lori Churchill (left: Ontario Geological Survey) with Martha Papah (centre) and Lily Slipperjack (right), both members of Eabametoong First Nation, in the community, developing display material for an information meeting, April 1, 2004.

Engagement enables you to share information. Indigenous communities need the details of a project or policy that may affect them to enable them to provide their views.

It is to your benefit to understand, and theirs to raise awareness about, Indigenous perspectives and issues. My mentors wanted me to raise awareness of the need to engage with Indigenous peoples through my book Walking Together.

It’s important to seek input from Indigenous communities on proposed initiatives as the foundation of a formal consultation process.

Engagement builds a foundation to help you and the Indigenous communities you’re engaging with determine if there is mutual interest in working collaboratively on initiatives. (Note: I am talking about collaboration and not partnership. See Story A9 in Walking Together.)

When: Engage proactively and as soon as possible, ideally before you get to the project conceptualization or planning stage.

My mentors taught me that engagement with Indigenous people is about building relationships. Engage with the goal to collaborate as equals. Engagement is an essential business and social practice that enables both parties to assess if there is interest in collaboration. If Indigenous people share their perspectives, knowledge, rights, and interests with you, treat them as equal to your own. Engagement takes time. It may sound overwhelming at first, but engagement is an important investment.

In my next blog, I share additional engagement insights I learned from my mentors that answer these questions: with whom, where, and how. That will be followed by a blog on engagement principles.

March 14, 2025