Drawing on Indigenous Talent: Leadership, Retention, and Representation

When I wrote this article for the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business' (CCIB) Indigenous Business Report, I was still processing how the so-called “Great Resignation” was unfolding across Canada, and what it meant for Indigenous workers navigating corporate spaces that often weren’t built with them in mind.

But as I researched and interviewed leaders at Cameco, ESS Compass Group, and Bouchier, a theme emerged: when Indigenous representation becomes embedded in talent pipelines (not just performatively, but meaningfully), something shifts.

We begin to see employment as a site of cultural safety. Training as a vehicle for equity. And retention as a form of reciprocity, not just an HR metric.

These companies are sourcing, mentoring, and supporting Indigenous talent in ways that reflect a deeper commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, one that goes beyond acknowledgment and into action.

Featured Quote

“This commitment results in positive and lasting impacts on the communities where Bouchier works and resides.”
— Denise Gardner, Director of HR, Bouchier

Read the Full Article:

Indigenous Business Report – Fall 2022, pg. 58
View full issue online
Download the full article as a PDF

💡 OCInsight

We often talk about the need to "Indigenize" the workforce, but these companies are showing us what that actually looks like. It’s not just about hiring more Indigenous people, it’s about creating systems where they can thrive, lead, and most importantly, shape the future.

About Bryan Hansen

Bryan Hansen is a Métis educator, speaker, and writer. He’s the founder of OCI, where he helps organizations move beyond land acknowledgments into meaningful, Nation-based reconciliation. His work appears in She Is Wise, Forward Magazine, Indigenous Business Report, and through partnerships with the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB).

As a proud Two-Spirit person, Bryan brings a lens shaped by lived experience, cultural knowledge, and deep relational accountability. His work blends humour, truth-telling, and clarity — inviting audiences to go beyond optics and into transformation.

Curious about working together or inviting Bryan to speak?
Let’s chat.