BUILDING LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIPS
OUR COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Meaningful Indigenous engagement is a foundation of corporate social responsibility. Paper Excellence understands the importance of being good neighbours and greatly values its relationships with Indigenous communities.
Paper Excellence acknowledges the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and recognizes enactments in our operating communities such as BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Paper Excellence deeply respects the calls to action as reflected in Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Paper Excellence’s approach is to build long-term high value partnerships with communities in its operating areas and where practicable to align its vision, values and corporate policies with local Indigenous Peoples.
Towards this commitment, Paper Excellence is focused on building beneficial business partnerships and supporting community investment with initiatives that focus on business capacity, education, health and culture, and sustainability projects.
Reconciliation through collaboration and an open-minded approach creates enduring and meaningful connections. Paper Excellence recognizes that doing business right means building business together.
Paper Excellence is building mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous Nations in our operating areas
Our Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) steering committee took part in Indigenous Peoples cultural training to support our ongoing reconciliation work
Our Saskatchewan team takes part in joint management of forest resources with Indigenous communities
Indigenous Relations Program
Paper Excellence is taking a thoughtful, policy-driven approach to building our Indigenous Relations program. We demonstrate a long-term commitment to building relationships with Indigenous communities and know that reconciliation through collaboration creates enduring and meaningful connections. Our Indigenous Relations four-page handout highlights four different aspects of our program:
- Building long-term relationships
- Investing in communities
- Cultivating business partnerships
- Putting reconciliation into action
COLLABORATION, RESPECT FOR VALUES, AND MUTUAL BENEFIT
Our goal is to develop business partnerships that are about collaboration, respect for values, and mutual benefit.
Paper Excellence works closely with Indigenous communities on education and stewardship initiatives, such as the Outland Youth Employment Program (OYEP). Our donations support the program, which provides an opportunity for First Nations youth to gain skills and exposure to forest industry opportunities.
The OYEP natural resource-based community-driven initiative works towards opportunities for Indigenous youth through education, training and work experience.
We present Indigenous People post-secondary scholarships in 10 communities each year. We are building more educational opportunities as part of our long-term commitment to the future of Canada’s Indigenous youth.
Investing in our communities
Investing in education is a key focus for Paper Excellence. In recognition of this, we offer $1,000 scholarship to First Nations, Metis and Inuit high school graduates from one of the Paper Excellence operating communities in British Columbia or Saskatchewan. The scholarship is for students entering their first year at a public university, community college or institute of technology.
INDIGENOUS SCHOLARSHIPS
June 2019, a Port Alberni mill representative presented two Indigenous Peoples scholarships awarded to recipients at the Alberni District Secondary School.
Paper Excellence allocates yearly donations that contribute to worthy projects such as the critical needs of coastal Indigenous Peoples to revive their unique language and material culture.
Nuu-Chah-Nulth master carver Tim Paul, transformed a 800-year-old cedar into the FNEF Language Revitalization Pole in Port Alberni. The totem pole provides a reminder for all Canadians of the importance of Indigenous languages. This is a culturally important project and Paper Excellence is proud to support it.
Paper Excellence values being a good neighbour with communities in the event of sudden emergencies and extraordinary conditions.
Non-certified surgical masks were donated to Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre at Cowichan Tribes in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2003, our Crofton Mill has partnered with local First Nations and key stakeholders for the protection of the Cowichan River. This heritage river is in jeopardy due to climate change reducing precipitation in its basin, resulting in 10 significant drought events in the past 20 years. The lack of water has lowered river levels, threatening the ecosystem including critical salmon and other fish populations. The River Management Group cooperatively develops and executes plans that help monitor the river and protect the fish.
Our goal is to develop business partnerships that are about collaboration, respect for values, and mutual benefit.
Paper Excellence works closely with Indigenous communities on education and stewardship initiatives, such as the Outland Youth Employment Program (OYEP). Our donations support the program, which provides an opportunity for First Nations youth to gain skills and exposure to forest industry opportunities.
The OYEP natural resource-based community-driven initiative works towards opportunities for Indigenous youth through education, training and work experience.
We present Indigenous People post-secondary scholarships in 10 communities each year. We are building more educational opportunities as part of our long-term commitment to the future of Canada’s Indigenous youth.
Investing in our communities
Investing in education is a key focus for Paper Excellence. In recognition of this, we offer $1,000 scholarship to First Nations, Metis and Inuit high school graduates from one of the Paper Excellence operating communities in British Columbia or Saskatchewan. The scholarship is for students entering their first year at a public university, community college or institute of technology.
INDIGENOUS SCHOLARSHIPS
June 2019, a Port Alberni mill representative presented two Indigenous Peoples scholarships awarded to recipients at the Alberni District Secondary School.
Paper Excellence allocates yearly donations that contribute to worthy projects such as the critical needs of coastal Indigenous Peoples to revive their unique language and material culture.
Nuu-Chah-Nulth master carver Tim Paul, transformed a 800-year-old cedar into the FNEF Language Revitalization Pole in Port Alberni. The totem pole provides a reminder for all Canadians of the importance of Indigenous languages. This is a culturally important project and Paper Excellence is proud to support it.
Paper Excellence values being a good neighbour with communities in the event of sudden emergencies and extraordinary conditions.
Non-certified surgical masks were donated to Ts’ewulhtun Health Centre at Cowichan Tribes in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2003, our Crofton Mill has partnered with local First Nations and key stakeholders for the protection of the Cowichan River. This heritage river is in jeopardy due to climate change reducing precipitation in its basin, resulting in 10 significant drought events in the past 20 years. The lack of water has lowered river levels, threatening the ecosystem including critical salmon and other fish populations. The River Management Group cooperatively develops and executes plans that help monitor the river and protect the fish.
Indigenous Relations Policy
Paper Excellence acknowledges the reliance of our business in partnership with Indigenous Peoples in Canada. As expressed in our Commitment to Indigenous People, we recognize that doing business right means building business together.
The creation of a policy specific to Indigenous Relations is intended to hold our company accountable to a long-term process of reconciliation, with carefully defined metrics that are in alignment with our Commitment.
INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS
In alignment with Paper Excellence’s Indigenous Relations Policy, and Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action #92, we are committed to supporting economic reconciliation through business development opportunities and increasing partnerships with Indigenous groups in our supply chain.
The Indigenous Procurement Policy covers the policy purpose, alignment with our Indigenous Relations Policy and conditions for eligibility.
Download the policy here: Indigenous Procurement Policy
Paper Excellence’s Indspire funding is available to Indigenous students enrolled in post-secondary forestry trades and/or apprenticeship programs in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, or Nova Scotia. There are three application deadlines each year: Aug 1, Nov 1, and Feb 1.
The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) works to build relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses and communities, helping to foster an equitable and sustainable economy across Canada. As CCAB members, Paper Excellence is proud to be part of this important work.
Paper Excellence has begun CCAB’s Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) certification process and is currently at the Committed level. We have founded a PAR Steering Committee and these seven people are helping us navigate our Committed PAR membership as we report on measurable outcomes and initiatives in four performance areas: Leadership Actions, Employment, Business Development, and Community Relations (Engagement and Support).
CCAB
Paper Excellence has demonstrated a long term commitment to building relationships with Indigenous communities. We support the social, cultural, environmental and educational goals of Indigenous partners.
Our fact sheet includes our Commitment to Indigenous Peoples as well as on-the-ground examples of Indigenous partnerships and relationship building. Learn more about our work in developing our Progressive Aboriginal Relations membership, investing in the education of Indigenous youth, and building partnerships with communities in our operating areas.
Download the fact sheet here: Indigenous Peoples Fact Sheet.
In alignment with Paper Excellence’s Indigenous Relations Policy, and Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action #92, we are committed to supporting economic reconciliation through business development opportunities and increasing partnerships with Indigenous groups in our supply chain.
The Indigenous Procurement Policy covers the policy purpose, alignment with our Indigenous Relations Policy and conditions for eligibility.
Download the policy here: Indigenous Procurement Policy
We are proud sponsors of Bears’ Lair Youth Dream Entrepreneur Camps. They provide three fun-filled days of interactive training, hands-on learning activities, and gaining valuable insights from guest speakers and mentors. Youth participants develop FUNdamental basic business knowledge preparing them for a future in entrepreneurship.
“Our focus is on Indigenous youth and how they will represent future businesses in British Columbia. We value the opportunity to foster their business training in ways like this— they are led by an accomplished team.” — Lana Wilhelm, Director of Indigenous Relations.
