@niccibergunder

#NewYearShoutOut A new lunar year has begun, and can’t help but continue to celebrate the relationships that lift me up. This photo includes both one of the 'tiny' Iron Mountain pieces of iron I use frequently, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Member Walker Stogan, who was recently promoted to JR Foreman with Salish Environmental Services. I met xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Members Drew Charles and Peter Felix when they founded Salish Environmental almost four years ago - they are two Indigenous entrepreneurs who are helping to change how business is done in Canada. Together we have generated tens of thousands of hours for Indigenous people, youth like Walker, women and other small businesses while turning a profit and building skills and confidence in their team. We’ve worked with some great people on some great projects over the past few years, and I’m honoured to be part of their story and to call them friends. In late 2020 I led the joint venture process between Salish Environmental and Matcon Civil, confident of the alignment of our values and end goals for such a relationship. Respect for each other, for the environment, for the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm community, and for the future are behind the decisions that Peter and Drew make. I am excited for the work we will do together in 2022. Values-driven business is not new. The idea of ethical business is not new. Yet the Indigenous worldview integrates ethical values and respect in a way that many capitalists don’t understand, because it’s not part of the zero-sum game. Outcomes matter, but so does process and what we want and need as people in 10, 20, and 175 years. Effective leadership includes the ability to see past your own nose, past your own experiences and acknowledge that your worldview is neither universal nor perfect - lifelong learning isn’t just about keeping up certification credits, just like diversity isn’t just hiring a guy from a different town. #leadership #indigenousleadership #indigenousentreprenures #indigenousbusiness Business in Vancouver [BIV] #collaboration #partnership #habitatconstruction #womeninconstruction @salishenvironmentalgroup