Following the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) Indigenous Relations Forum and West Coast Business Forum, we sat down with our colleague, Michelle Handley, to discuss her time at the forums and the conversations, perspectives and experiences that stayed with her.
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On October 14 and 15, Indigenous leaders, businesses and community representatives gathered in Vancouver to share ideas, celebrate achievements and explore opportunities for collaboration.
For Michelle Handley, the experience was both professionally valuable and deeply personal. Having spent more than 40 years in Northern Canada before relocating to British Columbia, Michelle attended with the hope of building new relationships and learning more about how businesses can meaningfully advance Indigenous reconciliation.
What she took away was a renewed appreciation for the work happening across Indigenous communities, the importance of listening to the next generation and the responsibility businesses have to earn trust through sustained action.
What were you hoping to take away from the forums?
Michelle: Being relatively new to British Columbia, my initial goal was to expand my network and make meaningful connections.
I was particularly interested in the involvement of Indigenous youth and the range of Indigenous-owned businesses and economic development organizations attending.
I also wanted to learn more about the Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program. From what I'd read, it seemed like a meaningful way for businesses to demonstrate their commitment to reconciliation, and I wanted to explore what pursuing accreditation might look like for our organization.
Was there anything about the experience that surprised you?
Michelle: As an Indigenous person, being there made me feel safe and proud.
Seeing the accomplishments of Indigenous businesses and Nations was incredibly moving. These weren't necessarily communities connected to my own ancestry, but seeing the projects, initiatives and creativity coming from Indigenous communities across Canada made my heart swell.
The youth were especially inspiring. They were given opportunities to speak on stage, participate in discussions and share their perspectives. They were articulate, thoughtful and accomplished.
It gave me a real sense of hope for the future.
You mentioned the youth presentations. Was there anything you heard that challenged your own thinking?
Michelle: Absolutely. As someone who's been working for a long time, I sometimes catch myself thinking that younger people still have a lot to learn before entering these conversations.
But the youth spoke about how they want to be included, how they want people to engage with them and how quickly they recognize whether someone is genuinely listening.
That really stayed with me.
It was an important reminder that young people already have valuable opinions and perspectives. We need to create opportunities for them to participate meaningfully, especially as we build relationships with communities.
You were particularly interested in the PAIR program. What did you learn about it?
Michelle: I hadn't fully appreciated how much work goes into accreditation.
For me, the value of PAIR is that it requires a company-wide commitment. It means an organization has invested time, resources and effort into building relationships and advancing reconciliation.
There are different accreditation levels, and progressing through them can take years. Organizations need to demonstrate their work and continue building on it.
I spoke with businesses at different stages of that journey, including one working toward moving from bronze to silver. It was encouraging to hear how seriously they approached the process.
I'd love to return next year with our organization taking steps toward becoming a PAIR applicant.
Did any conversations change your perspective on how businesses approach Indigenous relationships?
Michelle: I went into the event with some reservations. Over the years, I've seen situations where businesses haven't treated First Nations fairly, so I was cautious about the intentions of some non-Indigenous organizations attending.
But sitting with representatives from those businesses and hearing their conversations challenged some of my assumptions.
They were discussing employee retention, supporting youth basketball tournaments, visiting schools and finding ways to engage with communities beyond formal business agreements.
I could see a genuine desire to learn, contribute and build respectful relationships.
That was encouraging because trust takes time, and those conversations showed an understanding of the work involved.
How did the forums influence your thinking about community-led drone programs?
Michelle: I think there's tremendous potential, particularly when communities understand how broadly drone technology can support their priorities.
Sometimes a conversation starts with mapping territory, but as we discuss other applications, people begin to see possibilities for search and rescue, wildfire response, environmental monitoring and documenting culturally sensitive areas.
The important part is understanding the community first. Every Nation has its own priorities, challenges and aspirations. When you start with those conversations, you can explore how technology might support what the community is already working toward.
Looking five or ten years ahead, what would a successful community-led drone program look like to you?
Michelle: I'd love to see drone technology become an everyday capability within communities, with trained pilots supporting different departments and responding to multiple needs.
I imagine drones helping keep people safe during wildfires, floods and evacuations, supporting search and rescue, and allowing people to assess potentially dangerous situations without putting themselves at risk.
I'd also like to see communities using drones and LiDAR to monitor forests, wildlife, agriculture and development, building a deeper understanding of the relationships between their lands, waters and people.
And importantly, I want First Nations to own and control the information they collect.
Data sovereignty is a significant part of that vision. Communities should be able to retain their data, build on it over time and decide how it's used.
What is the biggest lesson you're bringing back from the experience?
Michelle: Relationships come first.
There isn't a shortcut or a formula for building trust. It takes showing up, listening, learning and demonstrating that you're committed for the long term.
I'd like to see us continue building on the work we've already done, spending time in communities and finding meaningful ways to support Indigenous peoples.
Reconciliation requires ongoing effort, and I think businesses need to approach that work with sincerity and a willingness to keep learning.
That's what I hope we carry forward.
Continuing the conversation
For Michelle, the forums offered an opportunity to reconnect with familiar Nations and communities from Northern Saskatchewan, meet people working toward shared goals and reflect on what meaningful collaboration can look like.
Her experience also reinforced an important responsibility for organizations working alongside Indigenous communities: to listen carefully, respect community priorities and recognize that relationships develop over time.
The conversations started in Vancouver will continue well beyond the forums, and Michelle hopes to return next year having made meaningful progress on the commitments that inspired her.
