Indigenous reconciliation
We recognize our responsibility to support reconciliation with Indigenous people. We aim to understand the history and culture of Indigenous people, while ensuring we acknowledge their interest in our projects. We believe one of the most important ways we can support reconciliation is through economic inclusion and working with Indigenous communities to develop economic self-sustainability.
Our approach to working with Indigenous communities focuses on:
- Consultation: We engage with communities regularly to help ensure they understand the potential impacts of our operations, so we can identify ways to mitigate these impacts.
- Relationships: Our relationships with Indigenous communities are forged based on mutual respect and trust.
- Employment: We support education and training programs that may help community members find employment with Cenovus or another company.
- Investment: We support a range of organizations focused on needs that are important to each of our local communities, including a five-year, $50 million Indigenous Housing Initiative to build much-needed new homes in six First Nations and Métis communities.
- Business: When possible, we include local Indigenous-owned businesses in our supply chain.
Our Indigenous reconciliation targets
INDIGENOUS RECONCILIATION
Achieve a minimum of $1.2 billion of spending with Indigenous businesses between 2019 and year-end 2025.
Attain Progressive Aboriginal Relations gold certification from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business by year-end 2025.
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Indigenous reconciliation progressTarget
PROGRESS
2021
$215 million2019‑2021
$629 million
2021 KEY MILESTONES
52%
of the way to target spend- Evolved existing request for proposal (RFP) contracting and evaluation processes to include the identification of Indigenous businesses.
WHAT’S NEXT 2
Finding and assessing new opportunities for spending with Indigenous businesses, with an added focus on areas that have not used Indigenous businesses to date. Working together with individual business units, supply chain management and community and Indigenous affairs to implement RFP contracting and evaluation processes that include the identification of Indigenous businesses.TargetPROGRESS
Certification efforts
launched
2021 KEY MILESTONES
- Completed Phase 1 of CCAB PAR program1.
- Indigenous Relations Policy training.
- Indigenous Inclusion Advisory Committee support.
- Gap analysis.
WHAT’S NEXT 2
Continue to progress each phase of gold PAR certification including ongoing gap analysis and action plans.1 Phase 1 PAR certification complete May 2022.
2 Represents actions that Cenovus intends to take during the 12 months ending December 31, 2022, unless otherwise noted.
Did you know?
The CCAB’s PAR program is Canada’s only certification program focused on best practices in Indigenous relations. Gold level is the highest standard that can be achieved.
We promote economic inclusion with Indigenous communities by working with local businesses near our operating areas.
The more than $600 million we spent on goods and services provided by local Indigenous companies between 2018 and 2021 is a solid start to meeting our spend target. By achieving gold level PAR certification, our Indigenous relations practices and programs will be independently validated and further opportunities for improvement will be identified, demonstrating our commitment to leading practices.
Indigenous reconciliation at a glance
- We’ve spent more than $3.4 billion on goods and services provided by Indigenous businesses since 2009.
- All Cenovus staff in Canada must complete Indigenous awareness training.
- In 2021 we launched an Indigenous Relations Policy.
- We have more than a dozen benefit agreements with Indigenous communities.