Reconciliation Revolution: One Plan That's Changing the Workplace Forever

CALGARY — Over the years, many organizations have made attempts to incorporate reconciliation into their workplaces, but it has only been through the tireless efforts of Indigenous relations specialists like Annie Korver that this vision has begun to take shape. When Annie Korver sits down with a new corporate or small business client, she encourages them to focus first on the “truth” part of Truth and Reconciliation.

This initial step sets the foundation for what Korver aims to help these organizations achieve — developing a reconciliation action plan. The term might sound straightforward, but in reality, this plan is often an intense, deeply personal journey for businesses looking to repair their relationships with Indigenous communities and start anew.

Korver’s process starts by encouraging business leaders to confront the historical injustices that have led to the chasm between corporations and Indigenous peoples. Frequently, this process begins by listening to Indigenous stories and educating clients about their own complicity in the problem, both as individuals and as representatives of a business or organization.

After acknowledging these historical wrongs and the ongoing impact they have, the organizations Korver works with are ready to move forward. She supports businesses as they strive to bring reconciliation into the workplace by reshaping policies, revising procedures, and incorporating Indigenous voices into decision-making processes. As these companies implement their new plans, Korver encourages them to focus on slow, meaningful progress rather than quick fixes or flashy PR gestures.

“There is no quick or easy way to restore trust,” Korver emphasizes, over and over, because she has learned firsthand the degree of effort required to dismantle outdated attitudes and embedded biases within businesses.

Some organizations have made impressive progress. These companies have shown their dedication to meaningful change by partnering with Indigenous-owned businesses, actively recruiting Indigenous employees, and dedicating resources to community projects that serve Indigenous people.

Given the daunting scope of reconciliation efforts across entire industries and centuries of entrenched systems of injustice, what drives Indigenous relations specialists like Korver to stay the course? Korver’s response reflects not only her determination but the essence of Indigenous peoples’ resilience: “Even when the journey seems darkest, change truly is possible. When it happens, we are all the better for it.”