b'PROGRESSIVE ABORIGINAL RELATIONSnot only interview the leadership, they [also] interview people throughout the system, Miller says. Its a brief interview, PAR REDESIGN but you get their Indigenous perspec-tive, and that really is valuable. A few years into PAR, it became clear that some changes were needed to the program. In 2014 and 2015, about 30 organizations were surveyed toMiller, currently owner and president of identify the challenges they were facing, and the program was redesignedBridging Innovations Inc., a management based on their feedback. and Indigenous relations company, says the biggest challenge and opportunity One of the main changes was that we turned the Committed levelthat PAR offers companies is to build trust, which takes time. The leaders of criteria into a framework-building process. It was designed to supportthe company should talk to the leaders of organizations and companies to build out a framework before beginningthe Indigenous group. This is where you to interact with communities, says Luanne Whitecrow, PAR programstart building trust. And if the company director. Once we relaunched the criteria, the program grew. Theleaders dont have a good reason for not roadmap that has been built is much more simple, incremental anddoing what they say they will, then they realistic. Its much clearer to companies what they have to do. break down trust, he explains. JohnHill,presidentofPioneer PerformanceInc.,isanotherveri-fier with the program. For him, Its all THE VERIFIERS after retiring from a position with theabout personal relationships. Business Bob Miller is well-versed in the PARB.C. government. The work of indepen- leaders, he says, realize its not just an program. He works as a PAR facilitator,dent verifiers is critical to PARs credibility.academic exercise but a cultural shift that providing PAR training and facilitation toThese are professionals who provide thehas to be adopted as a universal attitude participating companies. He also earliernecessary oversight, and the work theythroughout the organization.trained and worked as a PAR verifier,fulfil is comprehensive. The verifiers There is personal satisfaction for veri-fiers as well: You want to feel that youve made a difference and youve left the woodpile a little higher. If I can help organizations or businesses be U N E R A R M O I R N better than they are, its a rush, Hill says. My father was almost ashamed of his Indigenousness, and now, seeing some of these bands not just surviving but thriving because the mainstream is helping them out is really encouraging.In the end, PAR has proven to be a truly groundbreaking program that can serve as an example for Indigenous communi-ties worldwide. In the words of CCABs Luanne Whitecrow: PAR is the only UNDENIABLE TRUST system of its type in the world. Its a great system, and thats why compa-FORMULATED nies are engaging with itbecause it ATHLETES provides meaningful verification with FOR meaningful feedback.ANABOLIC PEAK When you see an organization working in collaboration with a community, ADVANCED INSTANT ACTING MUSCLE BUILDING WEIGHT GAINER that is where reconciliation is actu-ally happening, and thats what PAR 1340 muscle building caloriesNutrient dense enhanced calorie content loaded withcreates, adds Whitecrow. If I were anabolic optimizers. 50g of protein. to envision PAR 10 years from now, it STRENGTH X SPEED = POWER would be implemented at every level ofgovernmentandorganizations. INNERARMOUR.COM Thats whats going to bring about economic reconciliation.46A CCAB PUBLICATIONSpring 2024'