23 Oct City of Calgary
Indigenomics City of Calgary Profile
Background and Journey
The City of Calgary is on an ongoing and active Truth and Reconciliation journey. Significant recent developments in the journey include the creation and implementation of the White Goose Flying report (2016) and the formation of the Indigenous Relations Office. As part of implementing the recommendations from the White Goose Flying report, critical work has been underway.
The City is implementing many key initiatives as part of the work to support a more economic, social and climate resilient city for Calgarians to live, work and play. This includes: commissioning the Indigenous Economic Contributions Study, and developing a Social Procurement program and Public Value through Procurement policy for City contracts. These initiatives created the foundation for an Indigenous Procurement Program, which is being used in the procurement for the creation of a permanent Indian Residential School Memorial.
Indigenous Economic Contribution Study
In 2023, The City and Calgary Economic Development jointly commissioned the Indigenous Economic Contribution Study on the economic contributions of Indigenous households, governments and businesses. The study showed the potential of the Indigenous economy and the pivotal role Indigenous Peoples play in fostering economic prosperity for Calgary and the Treaty 7 Region. For instance, in 2021, the Indigenous economy generated a total GDP of $1.5 billion, approximately 1.2 per cent of Calgary’s total GDP, with Indigenous-owned businesses contributing $450 million.
The study also established benchmarks for Indigenous economic contributions and included specific recommendations to increase Indigenous economic participation, including supporting an Indigenous Procurement Program to guide The City of Calgary’s purchases.
Indigenous Procurement
Indigenous businesses are still an under-represented segment of The City’s supplier base, not yet reflecting the tremendous value they bring to the community. As an evolution of The City of Calgary’s Social Procurement program, the Indigenous Procurement program was developed to help address this issue. The program goal is simple: to reduce barriers and improve the capability of Indigenous-owned companies to participate in The City of Calgary’s procurement processes.
Taking a Nothing About Us, Without Us approach
The City of Calgary ’s Indigenous Relations Office and Supply Management business unit developed a four-part cyclical framework for the Indigenous Procurement Program, in consultation with Calgary Economic Development, and supported by an Indigenous consulting firm. The framework draws on the teachings of the medicine wheel and the importance of connection and relationships.
Phase One of the framework, starting in the east, focused on the opportunity for new beginnings and the start of new relationships. The voices of the Indigenous business community and those with lived experience are essential to the program. To ensure those voices are heard, The City formed an Indigenous Procurement Working Group (IPWG) with Indigenous members from the Treaty 7 area, along with urban Indigenous and Métis members.
The IPWG shared their wisdom on the challenges faced with colonial systems and suggestions on how to reduce barriers. They also guided The City’s engagement with the broader Indigenous business community. The City used the learnings from the IPWG and community engagement to build the foundation and core principles for the Indigenous Procurement Program.
Program principles
The core principles that guide The City’s Indigenous Procurement program are:
Commitment to barrier reduction and Indigenous business capability development
The City of Calgary’s Indigenous procurement strategy centres on reducing historical barriers that inhibit Indigenous economic capacity. The strategy also fosters the capability of Indigenous-owned businesses to be part of The City’s supply chain. As demonstrated with the Indigenous Economic Contribution Study, unlocking this economic potential will have a positive impact for all Calgarians.
Leading Indicators of participation, not Lagging Indicators of spend
Unlike other jurisdictions in Canada, The City’s program focuses on increasing the number of Indigenous-owned businesses participating in The City’s supply chain across all sectors. The increase in businesses that participate will lead to greater economic returns in the community. Under this model, there are no incentives to award a large contract to one Indigenous-owned business just to meet spend targets.
Iterative program design combining colonial and Indigenous ways of working
The City is committed to trying new approaches and new ways of working with Indigenous business owners as part of an inclusive supply chain. The Indigenous Procurement program follows a feedback cycle where the voice of the community is heard and acted on.
Engagement – Nothing About Us, Without Us
The City is actively creating structures within the Supply Management business unit and the broader organization to ensure Indigenous voices are at the table throughout the procurement journey. As strategies are identified, they are piloted through procurements and feedback from the Indigenous-owned business community is received and incorporated in the next pilot cycle.
Path Ahead
The City is now progressing to the south into Phase Two, the strategy development and piloting stage of the program. With ongoing engagement and collaboration with Indigenous communities, The City will develop the program’s strategies, support tools, processes and training for Indigenous business owners.
Indigenous Procurement in action: Indian Residential School Memorial Project
The City’s Indian Residential School Memorial (IRSM) Project is a major initiative putting Indigenous Procurement strategies in action. This memorial will commemorate all Indian residential school, day school and inter-generational trauma survivors and the children who never returned home. The project involves a two-stage procurement process, a design competition, to select a qualified team who will design the permanent memorial and it’s imperative this project be Indigenous-led.
The IRSM Indigenous procurement approach goes beyond the Indigenous-based scope which includes ways of knowing, being and connection to the community as central considerations. The first stage procurement includes prequalification requirements like having a lead designer with verifiable Indian, Inuit or Métis status. Bidders must also outline how their design is grounded in local Indigenous culture and Integrates traditional Indigenous design. When the request for prequalification was posted, The City leveraged its Indigenous networks and communications channels to promote the opportunity, in addition to its customary methods.
The request for prequalification, marking the first stage of the design competition, closed at the end of 2024. The IRSM is one of the first major projects under the Indigenous Procurement program, showcasing The City of Calgary’s commitment to fostering social and economic reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Conclusion
With initiatives like the Indigenous Procurement Program, Indian Residential School Memorial Project, and the Indigenous Economic Contribution Study, The City of Calgary is establishing strong roots for Indigenous economic reconciliation. These initiatives are key steps in The City’s overall ongoing journey towards Truth and Reconciliation.