New Economic Report Maps First Nations Growth in Saskatchewan

A new comprehensive economic report on all 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan is positioning itself to be a catalyst for growth, understanding, and development.

Indigistree, an Indigenous-owned consulting and research company based out of Regina, is offering a document, over 400-pages long, detailing economic developments, governance, protocols, and contact information for each of the province’s First Nations.

“I see this as a guide to doing business with First Nations people,” said Rodger Ross, Senior Partner at Indigistree.

“Our intention is to reach out to Canadians and Canadian corporations with this intel, so they have a better idea of how to do business with Indigenous people,” he said.

The report, entitled ‘Indigenous West – A Guide to Shared Opportunity Partnership and Prosperity in Saskatchewan’, contains a variety of editorial focused content in its first half, including protocols categorized by each treaty area. The latter half of the guide features detailed profiles of each nation.

“We knew that (corporations) would need to understand what the protocols are for working with First Nations communities,” said Ross. “It may involve pipe ceremonies, consultation with Elders, and we wanted people to have that information before they got into the statistics.”

The Indigenous West report is an evolution of Industry West Magazine, co-created by Brook Thalgott and Paul Huber, which showcases people, ideas, and companies in Western Canada. The magazine had regularly published content on First Nations and Indigenous businesses, and in doing so, building close connections around the province.

Proceeding with a comprehensive First Nations economic report thus seemed natural.

“I’ve kept saying – if you want to see some of the most interesting economic development in the province, look at what the First Nations are doing,” said Huber, Indigistree Partner.

“We are trying to proactively showcase the incredible opportunities in Saskatchewan, and with the business magazine, we’ve been exposed to that for years.,” he said.

Huber said the inherent value of the report is the level of information they’ve acquired, all amassed in one place.

According to Ross, their report is singular in its breadth.

“I have yet to see an intel report that includes this level of information on every First Nations in Saskatchewan,” said Ross. “It’s from trust. These communities have trusted Paul and Brook because of how supportive they’ve been in the articles written about the industry in our province.”

As each First Nation contributed to the report, Indigistree is making the profiles for each nation available to them, which can be used as an economic promotional tool, they said.

Indigistree said they are currently using their network to reach out to corporate Canada, making them aware of this new economic tool.

“I think all nations are coming to a place of understanding of where they need to have their own economic force. Relying on government for financial assistance is the bare minimum, and in most case, our people are living under the poverty line,” said Ross.  “Having an economic strategy of some kind is what’s on the mind of every nation in Saskatchewan.”

As part of Indigistree’s commitment to being a catalyst for economic growth for First Nations in Saskatchewan, they plan to make the report a ‘living document’, which will be updated as the communities evolve.

They plan to work with First Nations in Alberta and BC to produce similar, comprehensive reports.

“This has the potential to bring economic stability to all our nations, and that’s a powerful thing,” said Ross.

“I’m hoping that someone who invested in our report built a multi-million dollar business with one of our nations.”