Indigenous & Community Engagement (ICE) Inc. — Defining Indigenous Leadership in Economic Design
Across Canada, Indigenous-led research and policy are shaping a more inclusive and accountable economy. Indigenous & Community Engagement (ICE) Inc. is at the forefront of this transformation. As a 100 percent Indigenous-owned firm, ICE combines community insight with technical expertise to create solutions that strengthen Indigenous economies and advance reconciliation through action.
Founded in 2015, ICE has become a trusted national partner for Indigenous Nations, corporations, and governments seeking to work together with purpose and respect. Its work spans community planning, engagement strategy, socio-economic research, and policy development, all guided by Indigenous leadership.
The firm’s mission is grounded in partnership. It builds frameworks where Indigenous voices guide design, implementation, and evaluation. This approach ensures that development reflects Indigenous values and priorities while achieving measurable economic and social results.
Building the Indigenous Economy through Data and Design
ICE’s leadership was recently demonstrated through its work on the Thunder Bay Indigenous Economic Impact Report, commissioned by the Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) in collaboration with Fort William First Nation, the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association, and the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund.
The report revealed that Indigenous participation generated more than $1.5 billion in total economic output for the Thunder Bay region, supporting over 5,300 full-time jobs. These results established a new benchmark for understanding the scale and strength of Indigenous economies.
For ICE, the project represented more than research. It was a step toward redefining how Canada measures economic impact through Indigenous leadership. ICE President Michael Fox describes this as a turning point in Indigenous economic visibility. “Data is power when it is in the right hands,” he says. “Our goal is to make sure Indigenous Nations have the tools and evidence they need to lead their own growth. When Indigenous people lead economic design, prosperity follows for everyone.”
A Partner in Growth and Reconciliation
ICE’s expertise extends well beyond research. The company provides Indigenous inclusion strategies, project engagement planning, and reconciliation frameworks for public and private sector partners across Canada. Its approach turns dialogue into collaboration and ensures that Indigenous participation is integrated from concept to completion.
Through each project, ICE advances a model of economic reconciliation that is practical, measurable, and forward-looking. The firm helps organizations align their work with Indigenous rights, values, and aspirations, creating partnerships that deliver long-term value.
ICE also mentors emerging Indigenous professionals through internships, training, and applied research. By investing in youth capacity, the firm is preparing the next generation of Indigenous policy leaders, economists, and planners. This commitment reflects ICE’s belief that self-determination grows stronger when knowledge is shared and leadership is cultivated from within communities.
Innovation Rooted in Relationship
At the heart of ICE’s success is its relational approach. The firm believes that strong relationships are the foundation of successful economic partnerships. Every engagement begins with listening and relationship-building before analysis or policy design begins.
This philosophy has positioned ICE as a leader in ethical engagement and Indigenous economic innovation. The company has earned the confidence of clients and communities alike by demonstrating that Indigenous-led consulting delivers not only cultural integrity but also exceptional results.
ICE’s collaborative model has proven that reconciliation and prosperity move together. Each study and engagement plan the firm delivers becomes a practical example of Indigenomics in action — where Indigenous knowledge, economic expertise, and partnership create measurable impact.
Leadership for the Next Economy
Michael Fox’s leadership continues to guide ICE’s expansion across Canada. Under his direction, the firm is taking on projects that address energy transition, housing, workforce development, and infrastructure through Indigenous economic design.
He believes the future of Canada’s prosperity will be written through Indigenous participation. “Indigenous economies are growing in every region of this country,” he explains. “We are not just part of the conversation — we are leading it. ICE’s role is to make sure that leadership is informed, supported, and visible.”
ICE’s work embodies the principles of Indigenomics: relationship, respect, and economic inclusion. By providing Indigenous Nations with tools to measure success and by helping institutions understand their shared responsibilities, ICE continues to define what reconciliation through the economy looks like in practice.
A National Model of Indigenous Excellence
The Thunder Bay study stands as a model for how Indigenous-led research can transform policy and perception. It demonstrates that Indigenous participation strengthens not only regional economies but also national competitiveness.
Through its leadership, ICE has become a cornerstone in Canada’s movement toward Indigenous economic sovereignty. The firm’s combination of data, policy, and relationship-building has set a new standard for how collaboration should look in the country’s next economy.
Every project ICE undertakes contributes to a larger story — one of partnership, empowerment, and shared prosperity. The company’s work shows that when Indigenous leadership guides design, Canada gains a clearer path to a sustainable and inclusive future.
ICE’s continued growth reflects its guiding belief that success comes from collaboration rooted in respect and understanding. By creating systems that measure Indigenous contribution and value Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous & Community Engagement (ICE) Inc. is not only redefining consultation; it is designing Canada’s future economy.