need of improvement, as well as the critical role Indigenous communities, industry and government could play in improving the success of Indigenous procurement. One area that stood out was education. It was encouraging to hear industry stakeholders say they needed continuing education on issues tied to Indigenous reconciliation within their own companies. The report also revealed that First Nations’ opportunities were often limited to low-skilled employment like security or janitorial services. While this was partly due to skill level, it was also tied to how bid packages were bundled. Overall, it was clear that consistent and stable capacity for First Nation businesses regularly led to better outcomes and results. Governments had – and continue to have – opportunities to assist First Nations businesses. They can bring THE REPORT The Report on Indigenous Procurement Opportunities for LNG was written by Kim Baird, owner of Kim Baird Strategic Consulting, for the First Nations LNG Alliance, a group of like-minded B.C. First Nations groups that support the sustain- able development of the liquid natural gas (LNG) industry. Western Economic Diversifica- tion Canada retained the First Nations LNG Alliance to inter- view First Nations, First Nation enterprises, LNG companies and their engineering, procurement and construction subcontractors to talk about the procurement of Indigenous suppliers in B.C. during the development of the province’s LNG industry at its peak. It examines key themes surrounding relationships, education and training, capacity, implementation and First Nation economic governance. To read the entire report, please visit http://bit.ly/2mLX6DL. together various players to share their success stories and help others with their capacity for specialized bidding. This applies to all levels of govern- ment. In fostering First Nations procurement, governments can reduce red tape and provide process certainty for parties affected by regulatory processes. They can also make a difference by leading by example, introducing procurement targets and support, and incubating Indigenous business development. In conclusion, there is much to be learned from the First Nations procurement experience in the B.C. LNG industry. Above all, strong rela- tionships are the foundation to success and require a willingness by all parties to learn about each other. On this note, I would like to add that we often hear about companies needing to learn about First Nation culture, but I believe just as strongly that Indigenous groups need to learn about the culture of business, especially if they want to participate in economic opportunities. We must remember that new approaches require toler- ance – both for risk and failure. Entrepreneurs often fail several times before they succeed. For innovation to happen, risks must be taken. Learning from successful and failed approaches is an important ingredient for success. Kim Baird is the owner of Kim Baird Strategic Consulting, which offers First-Nation-related and strategic advice to industry, government and First Nations. While Chief of the Tsawwassen First Nation, Baird negotiated and implemented British Columbia’s first urban treaty. She serves on several boards, including the Infrastructure Bank of Canada, and is the recipient of both the Order of Canada and British Columbia. She holds an Institute of Corporate Directors designation. It’s about doing what’s right. “It’s important to me to work for a company that values different cultural perspectives and works to identify opportunities for Indigenous businesses across the great lands where we operate.” Peter Knight Indigenous and Community Liaison Wildrose Region, TransCanada TransCanada.com CCAB_Ad_4.583x 4.583.indd 1 3/2/2018 3:53:46 PM The Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT 35