By Mark Puglas, Director, Indigenous Engagement & Partnerships, Drax
While only recently given a statutory holiday, the history behind National Day for Truth and Reconciliation goes back for generations. We acknowledge the atrocities of residential schools, remember those who never returned home, honour survivors, their families and communities, and work to build equitable partnerships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. By doing so, we as companies, individuals, and society can recognize and work toward meaningful reconciliation.
Drax is committed to reconciliation, and with the support and direction of senior leadership, has implemented multiple actions to move the company’s reconciliation efforts forward. The Indigenous Advisory Committee is made up of eight members from Indigenous communities where Drax operates. By ensuring Indigenous voices are heard, this committee guides Drax’s efforts, ensuring decisions made are thoughtful, impactful, and inclusive. Drax has also developed a Reconciliation Action Plan, focused on awareness, education, employment, procurement, and capacity-building initiatives to support Indigenous communities. Drax’s Indigenous Peoples Policy enshrines the concept of Free and Prior Informed Consent as fundamental in our sourcing decisions.
At Drax, we know that reconciliation is not a single act or one day commitment –it’s a continuous effort to learn, listen, and take meaningful steps that contribute to positive change. That’s why we have committed to joining the Canadian Council of Indigenous Business (CCIB) Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) program.
The PAIR program is a nationally recognized framework that supports organizations in measuring, improving, and reporting on their Indigenous relations and engagement performance across four key areas: leadership, employment, business development, and community relationships.
“By engaging in the PAIR program, Drax demonstrates a meaningful commitment to action and accountability, which is a significant step towards integrating economic reconciliation throughout their operations,” said Tabatha Bull, President and CEO of Canadian Council for Indigenous Business. “We are proud to annually recognize a growing number of organizations that achieve accreditation for their commitment to building strong and respectful relationships with Indigenous communities and businesses.”
Drax’s participation in PAIR underscores its ongoing efforts to advance reconciliation through partnerships, employment pathways, and procurement initiatives that benefit Indigenous peoples across Canada.
Mark Puglas, Director, Indigenous Engagement & Partnerships, Drax added, “This commitment provides us with an accountability framework that challenges us to do better and to measure our progress in a transparent way. It is about walking the journey together with Indigenous communities, listening, learning, and taking action that makes a lasting difference.”
By joining PAIR, Drax reinforces its pledge to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities, enhance inclusion within its workforce, and contribute to sustainable economic growth.
This commitment also marks an important step in Drax’s reconciliation journey and demonstrates alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action.
To learn more about CCIB and the PAIR program, visit CCIB PAIR – CCIB
To learn more about Drax’s commitment to the communities we operate in, visit Our Communities – Drax Global
Featured image caption: Commemorative walk for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Quebec, Canada
