b'COVER STORYBirch Bark dedicates a portion of itsIndian descent. Yet East Indian cuisine has a prominent place in Canadian groceries, while Indigenous repre-proceeds to a good cause: for every 100 bagssentation lags significantly behind. If you look in food services stores, they of coffee sold, it donates a water purificationhave all these different multicultural sections of food, but you dont see any Indigenous sections, Marsolais-system to an Indigenous family Nahwegahbow says. This shift in perception is not entirely the responsibility of the retailers; it Progressive Aboriginal Relations certi- brands. This involves making spacefalls on the shoulders of consumers fication through Canadian Council foron the shelves of mainstream super- aswell.Marsolais-Nahwegahbow Aboriginal Business (CCAB).markets for Indigenous products, bothwants customers to think differently traditional and non-traditional.about the products they buy. If the To fully dispel stereotypes, however,consumer walked down an aisle and there needs to be education andTo put this into perspective, thereseesIndigenousproducts,Iwant awareness about Indigenous prod- are 1.8 million Indigenous peoplethem to look past the product and to ucts and their cultural significance,in Canadaaround five per cent ofknow that theres a story behind it, he and consumers need to be encour- the populationwhich is roughly thestresses. Its the impact that we have aged to support authentic Indigenoussame number of Canadians of Easton our communities.Marsolais-Nahwegahbows ambitions have not stopped with inking major deals with companies like Costco or Chapmans. He continues to look for more markets and partnerships to expand Birch Bark Coffee even further. Through licensing deals, for instance, he has started opening Birch Bark Cafes in universities and colleges in Ontario. Mechanical and electrical consulting engineers offer conceptualBirch Barks Indigenous owned, ethically design, detailed design and project management services as Our 13 offices acrosswell as energy modeling, systems commissioning, LEED &sourced, and socially conscious busi-Canada have moresustainability and renewable design. The building consultingness model fits well with the increased division provides services to institutional, healthcare,demand for socially conscious brands than half a century ofeducational, industrial, commercial and high-rise residential experience consultingclients in Canada and around the world. on university campuses. The Birchbark and partnering withCoffee founder is also toying with the Indigenous Peoples. idea of creating the first Indigenous coffeeroastingcompanyonhis In partnership with building owners, we develop and deliverhome reserve. engineered, single-source Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs) that deliver utility savings, carbon management, occupant comfort and systems renewal opportunities to colleges,Regardless of what new business universities, municipalities, school boards and health care facilitiesventure he has in mind, Marsolais-across Canada. Experts in sustainable design, we improve energyNahwegahbow remains laser-focused and environmental performance and guarantee cost recovery. on ensuring that his social enterprise business shifts the way Canadians think about Indigenous people and their communities, while also setting Highly skilled professionals provide electrical infrastructurean example for future Indigenous design solutions to heavy industry and utility clients, offering services for transmission, distribution and generation projectsentrepreneurs.including project and construction management, electrical and mechanical design, protection and control and telecom/SCADA. As Marsolai-Nahwegahbow puts it: Theres an old saying: One foot in the As we continue our industrys path towards reconciliation,canoe and one foot out of the canoe. Jeff Provost I look forward to leading MCW in further collaboration andKeep your traditional ways, but also Leader, Indigenous Relations, MCWContact: indigenous@mcw.com relationship-building with Indigenous groups across Canada know you must move forward with the economy. 18A CCAB PUBLICATIONFall 2023'