How Sodexo Contributes to Indigenous Prosperity in Canada

According to a recent survey, 79 percent of Canadians recognize the importance of thriving Indigenous enterprises in the creation of sustainable economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples.

It is gratifying to see that a strong majority of Canadians share our belief in supporting a thriving Indigenous economy.

Our experience is that companies that have success engaging with Indigenous communities and businesses have two things in common: They base their relationships on respect for Indigenous culture and values and focus on constantly strengthening economic and business opportunities for their Indigenous partners.

Partnering for Prosperity

At Sodexo, we believe in prosperity and quality of life for everybody. In Canada, this is an important part of doing business, as much of it is done on Indigenous lands. We have spent years learning how to work with affected communities in ways that focus not just on the day-to-day business, but also on what impact the company’s actions will have tomorrow, and on the future of Indigenous prosperity.

This approach has helped Sodexo gain recognition for its commitment to fostering impactful partnerships with Indigenous Communities, Nations, and businesses. In fact, Sodexo has been receiving the highest level of recognition issued by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB), the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) certification for over two decades.

Together, we strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy through the fostering of business relationships throughout our Energy & Resources accounts. As a company, it is important that we leave a positive "legacy" footprint in the communities where we operate. Through our training and development programs, our partnership commitments, and sustainable practices, we can help to elevate local communities.

And legacy might be the best word to describe Sodexo when it comes to relationships with Indigenous Communities and Nations. Twenty years of PAR certification from CCAB is no doubt proof of the involvement of the organization in nurturing existing and future relationships.

As part of that ongoing commitment, we have appointed two Directors of Indigenous Relations, namely Rejean Gosselin for Eastern Canada and Jonathan Kruger for Western Canada.

Jonathan is a member and former Chief of the Penticton Indian Band/Okanagan Nation. He and Rejean guide Sodexo’s continued commitment to supporting Indigenous communities and nations and creating positive legacies wherever we work.

Our Impact

Sodexo's relationships with our Indigenous partners and communities are directly tied to our goal of becoming an employer of choice, as well as a partner of choice, for our clients.

Some key figures to note:

• 40% of the workforce in the Energy & Resources segment are Indigenous
• We proudly work with 25 active Indigenous partners and 30 Indigenous community partners across Canada
• Every year we contribute over $11 million to Indigenous communities through our client partnerships
• We support over 84 Indigenous-owned active suppliers through our dedicated supplier diversity manager, Elizabeth Auceda.

 

Sodexo Canada has been committed to Indigenous relations for more than 30 years and we are proud of our PAR Gold Level certification. We help provide a voice for Indigenous communities in the Canadian marketplace and around the globe.

Our relationships with Indigenous communities are mutually beneficial partnerships based on the four Rs: Respect, Recognition, Revenue Sharing and Representation.

Read about our successful partnership with the Fox Lake Cree Nation.