VRCA goes virtual to make reconciliation a reality

The Vancouver Regional Construction Association (VRCA) is inviting members to the Bridging Perspectives webinar series, a group of six online sessions meant to foster understanding, concrete action between the construction industry and First Nations in service of reconciliation.

The sessions will cover various topics including cultural awareness, Indigenous engagement, procurement opportunities and building lasting partnerships, with the first session taking place on Jan. 29.

VRCA president Jeannine Martin said the impetus of the program was work done by VRCA chair and Southwest Contracting principal Will Pauga who worked on learning about reconciliation for his own business as well as entering into a business partnership with members of the Musqueam Indian Band and transferred his experiences to helping the association move forward.

“He really thought, ‘How can the association participate in reconciliation?” Martin said.

“Although I don’t believe we can tell people how to do business, I think what we can do is show leadership in the area of what the opportunities or areas where our members could get involved and increase their knowledge.”

And it also starts from within the association.

“After some dialogue, we decided to do a six-month guided journey for ourselves because we wanted our own staff to be more educated and knowledgeable in reconciliation. Then thought we’d invite we’d invite the membership to go on this journey with us,” Martin said.

She added the series was developed by VRCA director of advocacy and engagement Craig Larkins working with Fort Modular’s Sam Brezden, who handles that company’s Indigenous relations and business development file and is of Indigenous descent.

The first session on Jan. 29, she said, will explore the historical context of the land on which we build, acknowledging Indigenous histories and traditions and understanding the importance of recognizing the land’s original stewards and our ongoing connection.

“What we want to work towards over the six months is building a kit of parts of information and culminating with ‘what can I do? How does this impact my business going forward? How can I continue my journey?” she said.

The last session is exciting, Martin said, because it uses a small roundtable structure allowing for “a safe space to ask questions about how to engage, what to do, how to act, what’s wrong and what’s right.”

“Often, we’re hesitant to engage because we’re afraid to offend. We’re not sure what to do or say and so what we want to do is create a safe space for members to ask some appropriate questions about how they might engage for business and what is the right behaviour, because I think you don’t know what you don’t know,” she said.

Martin also addressed the possibility of combining VRCA’s extensive training with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.

“As we look at DEI in general and what we’re doing for our Indigenous partners, looking at ways at integrating them into our training should they be interested and want to engage with that, that will be part of our journey too,” Martin said.

A list of the six sessions follows: