b'INDIGENOUS PROCUREMENTChanging the Status QuoNational working group collaborates towardsIndigenous procurement targetsS ince 2018, NACCA, in collaboration with other Indigenous partners, has been advocating for the development of modernized Indigenous procurement policies and practices across the federal government to enhance Indigenous access to procurement opportunities. This direction has been affirmed by the Assembly of First Nations (AFNs) Resolutions #31-2018 and #62-2019.In late 2019, the Office of the Prime Minister began issuing departmental mandate letters calling on all federal gov-ernment departments and agencies to adopt a minimum five per cent Indigenous procurement target. On August 6, 2021, the Government of Canada implemented a manda-tory requirement for all federal departments and agencies for a minimum of five per cent of procurement contracts to be awarded to Indigenous businesses by 2024. Reaching 5% and Beyond: A Roadmap to IncreasingIn response, Indigenous procurement working groupsFederal Procurement from Indigenous Businesseswere established in July 2020 to actively collaborate within CanadaGovernment of Canada officials on the establishment ofDefining Indigenous Businesses in Canada policies, procedures and legislative frameworks necessary to achieve the minimum five per cent Indigenous procure- Transforming the Indigenous Procurement Process inment target across the whole of government. Canada: A Literature Review, Quantitative Analysis and RecommendationsThe National Indigenous Procurement Working Group is comprised of key Indigenous political and economicCreating the Conditions for Success: Implementing thedevelopment organizations that are national in scope and5% Procurement Requirementhave a broad multi-sector approach in the IndigenousTransforming the Procurement Process (Policy/Legisla-economic development field.tive Frameworks)A key task for the National Indigenous Procurement Work- Six key themes emerged from this research:ing Group was the issuing of five procurement research papers in December 2021: 1.Respect Indigenous Sovereignty and Crown obligations2.Establish a clear and universal certification process for Indigenous businesses3.Support the development of an Indigenous-led procure- ment institution (Supply Nation Canada) ________________________________________________ ________________________________________________4.Create meaningful incentives for federal officials Business Loans Business Loans Yukon Micro Loan Program5.Change federal procurement policies and practices Yukon Micro Loan Program Entrepreneur & Business Development Program Entrepreneur & Business Development Program Indigenous Women Entrepreneurship Programs6.Frequently and openly report IndigenousIndigenous Women Entrepreneurship Programs First Nation Mortgage Fundprocurement dataFirst Nation Mortgage Fund Our programs are available forThe Working Group looks forward to developing and final-Our programs are available forYukon and Northern BC Businessesizing the Business Case for a First Nations ProcurementYukon and Northern BC Businesses InstituteSupply Nation Canada and Engagement Strat-(867)668-6925 409 Black St. Whitehorse, Yukonwww.dananaye.comegy and Report for Indigenous Business Definitions in the (867)668-6925 409 Black St. Whitehorse, Yukonwww.dananaye.com coming months.22INDIGENOUS PROSPERITYIssue #1, 2023'