Supporting Indigenous Innovators
Recommendations for the Social Innovation (SI) Ecosystem
Supporting Indigenous People in Social Innovation
Indigenous people possess remarkable ideas, creativity, and ingenuity, along with a strong drive for social innovation. Both urban and rural Indigenous communities are well-equipped with the foundational elements necessary for impactful innovation. However, they often face a significant barrier: limited access to capital, markets, networks, and opportunities for learning and capacity building. These resources are plentiful within the Canadian Social Innovation ecosystem. To achieve equity, it's essential that Indigenous innovators have the same access and opportunities as their counterparts elsewhere in Canada. It is our shared responsibility to ensure that Indigenous individuals, communities, and organizations receive the support and resources they need.
You can start making a difference today by learning more about Indigenous Innovation and finding ways to support it in your role.
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Canada is at a turning point in its development. People are more aware of the economic inequality, environmental degradation, and political conflicts that we increasingly face. On this trajectory, our future stands to be even more complex than our present. Taking on these global challenges starts at home. To be successful in overcoming these challenges, we will require more evidence-informed, community-based, bold solutions.
Indigenous life in Canada requires the greatest improvements and Indigenous participation is essential to the economy.
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Inclusion starts with presence. To achieve genuine inclusion, equity, and progress, Indigenous individuals need to have significant roles within each of the ecosystem actors listed below. For Canada to thrive in social innovation and reap the benefits of its investment in the Social Finance Fund, the Social Innovation ecosystem must come together to ensure that Indigenous peoples are included and actively involved.
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In conducting our research for this knowledge exchange, we interviewed a range of stakeholders from across the ecosystem. The recommendations outlined below are derived from these conversations and aim to foster inclusion, along with enhancing collaboration throughout the ecosystem.
Valuing Traditional Knowledge
Indigenous individuals have reported feeling excluded from funding processes because these processes are often inaccessible and disconnected.
To enhance inclusion for Indigenous innovation within Canada’s Social Innovation ecosystem, it is essential to integrate and honour Traditional Knowledge, which is the foundation of Indigenous Innovation. It is important for all of us and our organizations to acknowledge and respect Traditional Knowledge as equally valid. Without a thorough understanding of the unique aspects of Indigenous Innovation, Western practices and policies may fall short in effectively supporting its success.
Characteristics of Traditional Knowledge System
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It is rooted to a particular set of experiences and generated by people living in those places. It has been said that transferring that knowledge to other places runs the risk of dislocating it.
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Orally transmitted or transmitted through imitation and demonstration. Writing it down changes some of its fundamental properties.
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Practical involvement in daily life, reinforced through ongoing experience, trial, and error, shapes our understanding. This accumulated knowledge results from generations of thoughtful reasoning, and since failures have immediate effects on those involved, they drive continuous learning and improvement.
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Characteristically, it is shared to a much greater degree than other forms of knowledge. This is why it is sometimes called “people’s science”, a term which also arises from its generation in contexts of everyday production. However, Traditional Knowledge is not usually distributed in a uniform or programmatic way within a population, but rather preserved through transfer in the memories of individuals.
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Traditional Knowledge often centers around specific individuals and can achieve coherence through rituals and symbolic constructs. However, its distribution is inherently fragmented; it’s never fully contained within any one person. In fact, much of this knowledge is not stored in individuals at all but is instead embedded in the practices and interactions that people engage in.
Indigenous Wisdom, as Diane Roussin calls it, can be different from Western paradigms. When you operate using Indigenous Wisdom, you often get different outcomes.
For example, Western paradigms of leadership are hierarchical – leaders at the top of the pyramid make most of the decisions producing more standardized products and resources. Indigenous Wisdom values thinking inside the circle, which is a more networked approach to leadership and decision-making. This approach will produce more customized products and resources that centre the stakeholder.
Traditional Knowledge in Social Innovation
Indigenous people do not owe you Traditional Knowledge.
Traditional Knowledge is often sacred, and therefore, not always meant to be shared. Traditional Knowledge is also not eligible for copyrights, patents, or other forms of legal protection as it is not owned by any individual, person, or persons. For these reasons, it will need to be granted on the basis of a desire for inclusion, reconciliation, and good faith, without full knowledge of it.
Working together starts with shared values
“Shifting an ecosystem towards innovation for systemic social change, involves moving beyond transactional collaboration and towards transformational collaboration. Fostering a shared strategy throughout the ecosystem, distributes risk and builds a shared sense of collective higher purpose and ambition”
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Collaboration requires inclusion, elements essential not only to the triumph of social innovation, but also to reconciliation. The spirit of social innovation is based on inclusive practices. This includes, but isn’t limited to, co-creation and multidisciplinary approaches. True social innovation thrives when all voices are valued, and diverse perspectives are acknowledged.
By aiming for the highest levels of collaboration, we can maximize our impact, collectively.
Collaboration Equals Better Outcomes
What you can do to actively include Indigenous Knowledge into Social Innovation?
For Indigenous innovation to thrive in Canada, it requires inclusion. Trueinclusion happens when all participants in the ecosystem commit to workingtogether towards collective success. One effective approach for non-In2digenouspeople to support this inclusion is by actively understanding and valuing TraditionalKnowledge, which can significantly contribute to social innovation.
Here are 5 skills you can use to integrate Indigenous Knowledge into social innovation.
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At the core of Indigenous Innovation lies a reflective mindset, which necessitates intentional self-work on an individual level. This challenges us to contemplate how our actions and decisions impact others when striving towards reconciliation. As Elder Jacqui Lavalley, of the Chippewas of Nawash, emphasizes, "True reconciliation begins with sincere self-reflection. You cannot promote reconciliation externally without first achieving it within yourself."
Self-assessment requires individuals to consciously and consistently introspect. Through this practice, they cultivate awareness, enabling them to question how their actions foster inclusion.
For instance, when analyzing stakeholder survey outcomes, do we pause to ask, "Whose perspectives are represented in this data?" or, "Does our survey data incorporate voices from marginalized communities?" Integrating self-assessment, reflection, and cultivating habits that prioritize inclusion, should be a focal point in the workplace.
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There are numerous frameworks and resources available to help non-Indigenous people understand the ethical procedures for promoting the inclusion of Indigenous people. While these tools are beneficial, they cannot replace the direct engagement with Indigenous people and communities for the most relevant insights. There are no shortcuts to understanding the best ways to engage and collaborate with Indigenous people. It is crucial not to make pan-Indigenous assumptions based on research or resources, regardless of their credibility. Instead, we should go directly to the source—the people and the community within the context of interest, welcoming and accepting the stories shared.
Input from Indigenous communities should be gathered both before, and during, the design of Social Innovation. This input not only signifies the government’s commitment to reconciliation, but also facilitates the realization of these goals. Indigenous communities must be engaged in the design of, and benefit from, new programs and measures resulting from these recommendations. Particularly in areas such as capacity, skills building, funding, capital access, knowledge sharing, and mobilization (Economic and Social Development Canada, 2018, p.44).
Finally, community input shouldn't be limited to the research phases of work. To ensure that Indigenous perspectives are consistently considered, it is essential to develop strong partnerships and hire Indigenous people within the governing bodies of the Social Innovation ecosystem—those entities that make decisions and policies impacting the entire ecosystem.
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The journey toward inclusion cannot be undertaken solely by Indigenous people. It requires allyship—the support of those with more privilege and greater access to advocate for Indigenous interests. As Alexiuk (2013) notes, “Settler allies within governments and industry can help build capacity within these institutions for intercultural understanding. This contributes to the durability and impact of emerging Indigenous innovations.” Allies play a vital role in integrating Traditional Knowledge into standard social innovation practices, policies, and approaches. In addition, incorporating inclusion into visioning strategies ensures it's always considered during strategic decision-making.
Certain aspects of the social innovation process are less compatible with Traditional Knowledge, especially when there aren't enough Indigenous people involved. Social finance is one area in particular that requires greater inclusion. Allyship is most critical in areas lacking Indigenous stakeholders, or where significant change is needed. For example, inclusivity in funding applications and impact evaluations often requires substantial deviations from standard Western methods. Allies must be willing to take risks and provide perspectives that challenge the existing paradigm. They can be the first in their workplaces or working groups to validate Traditional Knowledge and demonstrate openness to change. While this can be a significant personal challenge, advancing inclusion is what defines an ally.
By stepping up and supporting Indigenous perspectives, allies can drive meaningful and lasting change within the social innovation ecosystem.
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Here are questions to think about when considering the development of healthy relationships between Indigenous peoples and non-Indigenous people. These guidelines are intended to inform decision-making when building relationships with partners, and to serve as a catalyst for important conversations. This list aims to support individuals and organizations in taking the initiative to respect Indigenous rights:
How do you embed cultural safety training and adapt it for business tools?
How do you ensure employment processes recognizes the impacts of colonization and respect Indigenous rights?
How do we convey that the burden of these processes shouldn't fall on Indigenous communities?
How do we compensate people for the consultations we request from them?
Inclusion is nurtured by acknowledging human integrity, respecting Indigenous rights, supporting reconciliation, and treating Traditional Knowledge as valid. When non-Indigenous people respect Indigenous rights and build relationships based on this respect, they create safe spaces for inclusion.
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Traditional Knowledge views life quality and impact in a more holistic manner, where success is interconnected across individual, social, and ecological dimensions. It aligns with the social, economic, and environmental conditions of social innovation projects, recognizing the roles of the self, family, and community as agents of change. From the perspective of Traditional Knowledge, social impact encompasses the well-being of the mind, body, and spirit. This broader definition of impact can guide evaluators in understanding and supporting the visions of Indigenous innovators more effectively. Innovations informed by Traditional Knowledge often explore the intricate relationships and processes within their activities, providing value on a holistic level. Evaluations that integrate Traditional Knowledge will better account for these outcomes. Ultimately, a model that reflects Indigenous perspectives while remaining accessible to Western evaluation practices will achieve the most meaningful impact.
Self-reflection exercise for your daily inclusion practice
In order for each of us to do our part in promoting inclusion throughout the ecosystem, we must practice it daily. Here are 4 self-reflection questions you can ask yourself before speaking, deciding, or acting. This ensures that you have considered how your choices affect Indigenous peoples.
Supporting Indigenous Innovators
Continue developing your Self-Reflective practice
Download the Supporting Indigenous Innovator workbook to begin making self-reflection a part of your every day.
Resources to support your daily inclusion practices.
Here are some resources that can help you and your organization
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Cultural competence Self-assessment checklist
Cultural safety Resource
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Follow Indigenous organizations, advocates, and activists on social media.
Be informed by Indigenous media voices.
Conduct regular stakeholder research with Indigenous populations.
