Good Business Ownership Starts with Responsibility
At Key Instincts, we believe that good business ownership is about more than strategy and success; it’s about stewardship. It’s about how we show up in our communities, how we honour the land we operate on, and how we contribute to healing the past while building a better future.
As September 30th approaches, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we invite business leaders to reflect on their role in this journey. Reconciliation isn’t just a government responsibility. It’s a call to action for every individual, every organization, and every business.
Why September 30th Matters
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned home from residential schools, as well as Survivors and their families. It’s a day to listen, learn, and acknowledge the painful legacy of colonialism in Canada.
For business owners, it’s also a moment to ask:
- How does my business contribute to reconciliation?
- Am I creating space for Indigenous voices?
- Do my practices reflect respect, equity, and inclusion?
Business Ownership as a Reconciliation Practice
Good business ownership means leading with integrity, and that includes recognizing the historical and ongoing impacts of colonization.
Here’s how businesses can be part of the movement:
- Educate Yourself and Your Team: Learn about the history of residential schools and Indigenous cultures. Host workshops or share resources internally.
- Acknowledge the Land: Include land acknowledgements in meetings, websites, and events. Understand whose territory you operate on.
- Support Indigenous Businesses: Source locally, collaborate, and amplify Indigenous entrepreneurs and creators.
- Create Inclusive Workplaces: Review hiring practices, offer cultural safety training, and ensure Indigenous employees feel seen and supported.
- Show Up on September 30th: Close your business for the day, wear orange, attend community events, or donate to Indigenous-led organizations.
You can explore the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for more ways to engage meaningfully.
Leadership Rooted in Respect
At Key Instincts, we help businesses grow from the inside out. That means fostering cultures of empathy, accountability, and awareness. Truth and Reconciliation isn’t a checkbox; it’s a mindset. It’s about how we lead, how we listen, and how we build relationships that honour the truth.
This September 30th, we encourage all business owners to pause, reflect, and recommit to being part of the solution. Because good business isn’t just about what you build; it’s about how you build it.
