Indigenous Relations

Our journey to Indigenous ally-ship

Research with Indigenous Peoples

Environics is a non-Indigenous consulting firm committed to research in the interest of Indigenous peoples. The journey to Indigenous ally-ship is long and on-going, and we are thankful to the many Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals who have advised us along the way.

Beginning in the early 2000’s, we learned about the opportunities and challenges facing Indigenous peoples in Canada through the lens of research – culminating with the Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study (2008-2009), a landmark study led by a Steering Committee of Indigenous experts and conducted by a network of mostly Indigenous project managers and interviewers in 10 cities across Canada.

Through this work, we learned about:

The harm done to Indigenous people through research, driving their distrust in the research process and reluctance to participate;

The value of culturally-appropriate research in ensuring Indigenous people and perspectives are heard; and,

The need for research to be Indigenous-led.

Our Philosophy

This on-going learning has informed our approach as a non-Indigenous organization, following on the Truth & Reconciliation Call to Action #92 for corporate Canada. Our philosophy is that partnerships are the key to success, and we have invested in developing long-term, respectful relationships with Indigenous clients and consultants.

In these partnerships, Environics’ role is to:

Ensure Indigenous research projects are developed and conducted through an Indigenous lens, following the lead of and drawing on the expertise of our Indigenous partners.

Contribute to research capacity among our Indigenous partners, by partnering on large-scale studies and through training initiatives.

Advocate for more culturally-appropriate approaches by the research and insights industry as a whole. We have also invested in internal training and awareness building so all Environics staff have the necessary background and expertise.

Meaningful conversations with Indigenous Organizations and Peoples

“As settlers, we recognize the privilege and responsibility we have to bridge between Indigenous audiences and Canadian corporations, society, and governments. Our journeys have been about listening, learning, and adapting.”

Sarah Roberton – Senior Vice President, Corporate and Public Affairs

Indigenous Video Series

Research with Indigenous audiences – 5 Reflective Tips

Sarah Roberton shares key insights from our internal workshop on conducting research with Indigenous audiences, emphasizing the importance of respect, careful preparation, and cultural sensitivity to foster meaningful engagement.

Reflective Tips

Contact Us

Connect with Sarah Roberton

Sarah Roberton is Senior Vice President, Corporate and Public Affairs at Environics Research. Sarah is particularly experienced in conducting research with Indigenous communities, bringing a strong emphasis on cultural sensitivity, respect, and collaboration to her work. She uses data-driven storytelling to illuminate the paths organizations should take to achieve meaningful engagement and long-term success.