Funding Area
Reconciliation
We are committed to partnering with Indigenous organizations and communities to strengthen the reconciliation economy for this generation and those to come.
Renewed strategic approach & capital transfer
McConnell has been collaborating with partners to collectively transition to a reconciliation economy for 20 years. Guided by the National Indigenous Economic Strategy, in 2023 we updated our strategy to support Indigenous-led solutions that activate their 107 Calls to Economic Prosperity. We also partner with Indigenous-led funding collaboratives.
Additionally, we marked our 20-year milestone by announcing a $30 million capital transfer to community-focused Indigenous-led foundations that support communities coast to coast to coast.
$7.24M
in contributions
We allocated $7 million to our Reconciliation focus area as part of our efforts to advance a reconciliation economy where wealth and resources are equitably shared and sustainably stewarded.
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Reconciliation partners
In 2023 we developed partnerships with 12 organizations through our Reconciliation focus area. We also continued or renewed our partnership with 27 organizations.
Common Ground project
Community Forests International has partnered with the Ulnooweg Education Centre and Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick to co-manage the Wabanaki-Acadian Forest. Their Common Ground project prioritizes sharing Indigenous place-based knowledge within Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities, and providing training to communities so that they can access economic benefits via carbon offsetting.
$379,659
Weaving Indigenous knowledge and western science to manage forests for climate resilience
Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative
The Northern Manitoba Food, Culture, and Community Collaborative demonstrates how Indigenous-led collaborative funding models can support community solutions to food security, local agricultural initiatives and cultural projects.
$500,000
Centering community priorities to reclaim culture and food sovereignty
“I wanted to show the strength of Indigenous people in this piece. After the attempted genocide of Indigenous people, they are still here reclaiming their culture. In my artwork, I want the beauty of Indigenous culture to shine through and show how special it is. Indigenous people never deserved their culture to be taken from them. Reconciliation of Indigenous culture is important to heal our communities. The land we live on all across Turtle Island (North America) is all Indigenous land, so we must educate ourselves on the history, and help repair what has happened to Indigenous people.” - Bada Jean
Visit www.badajean.com to view more of Bada Jean’s artwork.