Indigenous & Community Engagement
Our Services
From Indigenous engagement to research, planning, facilitation, and Indigenous inclusion programs, explore the full range of ways ICE works with communities, governments, organizations, and industry.
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10 services
Indigenous Participation Plans
IPPs
ICE provides specialized advisory services for the design, development, implementation and evaluation of Indigenous Participation Plans (IPPs) for major infrastructure, construction, energy and resource projects. Our approach connects Indigenous engagement directly to tangible socio-economic opportunities by assessing community workforce and business capacity, identifying project-specific opportunities, and developing practical strategies across the core IPP dimensions of Indigenous employment, training and skills development, Indigenous procurement and subcontracting, and capacity building. ICE works with project owners, proponents and Indigenous Nations to establish realistic participation targets and implementation strategies informed by community priorities, available capacity, project schedules and procurement requirements.
Reconciliation Action Plans
RAPs
A RAP builds reconciliation into an organization’s policies, practices, training, and
culture. ICE develops these frameworks with organizations, institutions, agencies, and
associations to create lasting change and meaningful inclusion. Each engagement begins with a readiness assessment and gap analysis to establish a clear starting point for the reconciliation journey. Grounded in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action, every plan is tailored to the organization and its context, translating reconciliation commitments into practical actions, measurable outcomes, and lasting Indigenous participation.
Indigenous Social Research
Across community, academic, and industry settings, ICE delivers culturally grounded, Indigenous-led research that turns knowledge into meaningful action. Our approach respects Indigenous knowledge systems and is guided by the First Nations Principles of OCAP® helping ensure that First Nations maintain authority over how their information is collected, interpreted, protected, shared and ultimately used. From socio-economic baseline studies and needs assessments to community-driven research design, surveys, data analysis and strategic planning, ICE works alongside communities and organizations to ensure the research reflects their priorities, perspectives and aspirations.
Business Advisory
ICE offers strategic guidance to help Indigenous businesses, entrepreneurs, and economic
development corporations build sustainable pathways, maximize opportunities, and strengthen community-based enterprises. Our services range from strategic planning to feasibility studies, market analysis, management reviews, and partnership advisory. Backed by a team with backgrounds in joint ventures, First Nation enterprise development, and corporate and commercial law, we align every strategy with community values and long-term self-sufficiency.
Community Planning, Development, and Capacity Building
ICE helps Indigenous communities plan for sustainable growth while strengthening
leadership, governance, and long-term capacity. Our work includes comprehensive community plans, land use plans, integrated capital plans, and departmental and operational planning, developed through needs assessments and community visioning. Through tailored training and mentorship programs, we design capacity-building initiatives around each project, drawing on existing competencies, skills, knowledge, and experience at the individual, organizational, and community levels. The goal is lasting local expertise that equips communities to lead and sustain their own development.
Indigenous Facilitation
As Certified Professional Facilitators, our team guides workshops, meetings, and
multi-stakeholder discussions in ways that respect and honour Indigenous cultural protocols and decision-making traditions, creating respectful, inclusive spaces for Elders, youth, and community members. We facilitate complex, multi-party conversations that move diverse
perspectives toward clarity, alignment, and action, using proven approaches such as stakeholder mapping, consensus building, and collaborative problem-solving. The outcome is meaningful, respectful, and productive engagement, where every voice is heard, group problem-solving is effective, and community priorities shape the decisions made.
Engagement and Consultation Plans
Engagement, consultation, and negotiation remain central to project initiation,
advancement, and management. ICE provides expert support in developing engagement and
consultation strategies that facilitate meaningful dialogue, respect Indigenous rights, and keep communication clear, building trust and improving project outcomes. Our approach emphasizes early and continuous engagement, culturally appropriate processes, and flexible timelines that respect community decision-making. To align each project’s mandate with the community’s aspirations, we draw on background research, risk and opportunity identification, culturally relevant materials, and ongoing evaluation. This work spans developing Indigenous inclusion initiatives, designing relationship-based consultation programs, and implementing project agreements. In every engagement, we move beyond regulatory compliance toward genuine, enduring relationships.
Indigenous Knowledge and Traditional Land Use
ICE conducts collaborative studies that document sacred sites, traditional ecological
knowledge, and land use practices, integrating this knowledge into planning frameworks for housing, infrastructure, and conservation. We know this work is never one-size-fits-all. Working closely with leadership, Elders, knowledge holders, youth, and community members, we gather information through interviews, sharing circles, community open houses, and field data collection. Guided by OCAP® data-sovereignty principles and a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) lens, our studies support a holistic environmental understanding while keeping
knowledge ownership with the community. We treat knowledge as a gift to be protected, not a
resource to be extracted.
Socio-Economic Impact Assessments
Our team provides comprehensive, evidence-based assessments of the cultural, social, and
economic impacts a project or policy may have on an Indigenous community, identifying ways
to reduce harms and strengthen benefits. These assessments evaluate how proposed
developments may affect local communities, economies, and cultural dynamics, analyzing
indicators such as employment, income, health, education, and community well-being. Through meaningful engagement with rights holders, Indigenous communities, and other affected parties, we ensure that local perspectives and traditional knowledge inform the process. The result supports regulatory approvals, informs risk management, gives communities strong, well-documented positions for negotiation and decision-making, and shapes strategies for sustainable, inclusive growth tailored to community needs and values.
Project Management and Technical Support
We provide project management and technical support that helps complex projects move from planning to implementation with clarity, coordination, and accountability. We work alongside Indigenous communities, governments, project proponents, engineering teams, and other partners to manage multidisciplinary workstreams, coordinate technical and community priorities, track commitments and deliverables, identify emerging risks, and keep projects aligned with schedules, regulatory requirements, and community objectives.
Ensuring Indigenous voices are central to every project.
