Canada's Indigenous Economy Grew 70% in Last Decade

Canada's Indigenous communities are driving serious economic growth, and the country's future prosperity might depend on deepening those partnerships.

A new Deloitte report reveals that Indigenous gross domestic income surged 70% over the past decade, climbing from $37.6 billion to $63.7 billion. The research, which interviewed 12 Indigenous business leaders and analyzed successful partnerships, found that Indigenous collaboration is one of Canada's most underleveraged growth opportunities.

"Indigenous peoples being included in economic growth and new projects is going to be part of the solution and not an additional cost," said Dean Janvier, a Deloitte Canada partner and member of the Cold Lake First Nations. "In fact, it will be a net benefit to Canada."

The impact shows up where it matters most. Indigenous communities are now central players in fishing, forestry, mining, and oil and gas industries. Companies that take time to build relationships with First Nations before breaking ground are discovering something unexpected: projects move faster and cost less.

Janvier said the secret ingredient is respect. "Showing up, listening, and taking time to establish that familiarity becomes the basis of trust in the relationship going forward," he explained. That trust translates directly into smoother approvals, lower costs, and higher productivity.

The economic power extends beyond Canadian borders too. Indigenous peoples maintain international relationships with other Indigenous groups worldwide, creating potential trade advantages as Canada reshapes its global partnerships.

The Ripple Effect

The growth isn't just about numbers on a balance sheet. When barriers like geographic isolation get addressed, the report estimates the Indigenous economy could nearly double in scale. That means more jobs, stronger communities, and greater self-determination for Indigenous peoples across Canada.

The momentum is building as more companies abandon the old "get permission later" approach. Forward-thinking businesses now recognize that Indigenous world views in decision-making create strategic advantages, not obstacles.

The report points to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action as a roadmap forward. Economic reconciliation means embedding Indigenous partnership, consent, and equity participation into core business strategies from day one, not as an afterthought.

The path ahead requires policymakers and corporate leaders to keep building on this momentum. Some resistance to change remains, with voices calling for a return to the permit-first, negotiate-later approach of decades past. But the evidence is clear: collaboration works better for everyone.

As Canada faces global economic restructuring, Indigenous participation isn't just the right thing to do. It's becoming the smart thing to do.