Every year on September 30, we pause for a moment of remembrance. We honour survivors of residential schools, acknowledge intergenerational trauma, and reflect on the shared responsibility we all hold in the path to reconciliation.
But reconciliation does not begin and end on one day.
At Stream Source, an Indigenous-owned workforce solutions and recruitment firm, we believe that true reconciliation lives in actions, not words. It is expressed in who gets hired, who gets promoted, who is supported to thrive, and who gets left out.
As we mark the 2025 National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, we are reminded that one of the most impactful places reconciliation can take root is in the workplace. Inclusion, equity, and opportunity must be more than aspirations.
Walking the Path from Words to Work
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission laid out 94 Calls to Action, offering clear guidance on how institutions, governments, schools, and corporations can contribute to healing and equity.
Two Calls stand out for the business community:
- Call to Action 7 urges us to eliminate the educational and employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians.
- Call to Action 92 calls on the corporate sector to ensure Indigenous peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, education, and meaningful consultation in economic projects.
At Stream Source, these are not just policy points. They are the foundation of our work.
Our mission is simple but powerful. We connect under-represented groups with meaningful employment and support the economic well-being of Indigenous communities. In doing so, we help our clients across Canada build inclusive, future-ready workforces.
Progress Made and Gaps That Remain
In the past year, Canada has seen meaningful momentum in Indigenous employment and economic participation. Yet there are still persistent barriers that demand urgent attention.
The Good News:
- Between 2012 and 2022, the number of jobs held by Indigenous peoples in Canada grew by 29.7%, outpacing the national average. During that same period, Indigenous income increased by 74.7%, reflecting rising participation across multiple sectors (StatCan).
- As of 2022, approximately 1 in 22 jobs in Canada was held by an Indigenous person. This reflects an upward trend and serves as a powerful indicator of growth and resilience within the Indigenous labour market.
- In the federal public service, Indigenous representation now exceeds workforce availability estimates in several departments, including at the executive level — proof that focused equity strategies and targets do work (Canada.ca).
The Ongoing Challenges:
- Indigenous workers, particularly First Nations people living off reserve, are overrepresented in involuntary part-time roles (23.9% vs 18.6% for non-Indigenous workers) and in short-tenure employment lasting less than 12 months (24.3% vs 19.1%) both key indicators of employment instability (StatCan).
- On-reserve employment rates remain the lowest among all groups in Canada. As of the most recent analysis, the labour force participation gap between First Nations on reserve and non-Indigenous individuals has widened by over 22% since 2006 (NIEDB).
- Indigenous professionals continue to be underrepresented in technical, engineering, and leadership roles. For example, only 2.2% of workers in federal architecture, engineering, and land survey roles identify as Indigenous, compared with 5.3% Indigenous representation overall in the public service (Canada.ca).
- Many large-scale economic projects still move forward without full, free, prior, and informed consent from affected Indigenous communities — a critical gap highlighted by Call to Action 92 and UNDRIP.
This is where employers — and workforce partners like Stream Source — have a vital role to play. With the right strategies, tools, and partnerships, these gaps can be closed.
Reconciliation Through Workforce Action: What It Looks Like in 2025
Reconciliation is not abstract. It is measurable. Here is how organizations can put the principles of Calls to Action 7 and 92 into practice:
1. Hire Inclusively and Intentionally
Equitable hiring does not happen by chance. It happens through proactive outreach, partnerships with Indigenous talent networks, and barrier-aware practices.
At Stream Source, we help employers source talent for full-time, part-time, temporary, and contract roles. We also manage payroll and contingent workforce needs across Canada.
“Employing Indigenous Peoples in Canadian resource sectors correlates with increased community support and business success.”
2. Invest in Training, Not Just Hiring
Employment gaps cannot close unless Indigenous workers have access to training, mentorship, and advancement.
Employers should build career pathways, not just fill jobs. Internships, on-the-job training, leadership development, and tuition support all make a difference and strengthen retention.
3. Build True Partnerships with Indigenous Communities
Reconciliation is not just internal. It is relational.
Employers have a duty to engage Indigenous communities early and often, especially when economic projects affect Indigenous lands, waters, or rights.
Call to Action 92 emphasizes free, prior, and informed consent. That is more than consultation; it is collaboration.
4. Create Culturally Aware Workplaces
Safe workplaces are inclusive workplaces.
Cultural awareness training, trauma-informed HR practices, flexibility for traditional practices, and visible Indigenous leadership can help ensure Indigenous team members feel seen, heard, and respected.
5. Commit to Equitable Pay and Advancement
Economic reconciliation means Indigenous workers are not just present but equitably compensated and supported to succeed.
Stream Source helps clients evaluate compensation models to ensure fairness, transparency, and opportunity for Indigenous employees.
6. Reinvest into Indigenous Communities
At Stream Source, a portion of our revenue is reinvested directly into Indigenous community initiatives. These include youth employment, skills training, health, education, and sport.
When you work with us, your investment does not stop at your company. It flows directly into communities that deserve meaningful, lasting support.
Reconciliation is a Journey, not a Destination
We have come far. But we cannot pause here.Reconciliation demands more than recognition days, hashtags, or orange shirts. It demands measurable change in the systems we control, especially employment.
As an Indigenous-owned company, we bring not only lived experience but also proven solutions to help businesses become better, fairer, and stronger through inclusion.
This September 30, we honour survivors and remember the truths of our shared history. But we also recommit to action.
Let us build a workforce that reflects the country we aspire to be: just, inclusive, and equitable.
Ready to make a difference? Partner with us.
Together, we can walk the path of reconciliation. Not just in words, but in work.