Deloitte Canada says it has launched a dedicated practice focused on helping build capacity and opportunity for Indigenous peoples and nations.

Jolain Foster, managing partner of the new Nation Building practice, says there are major barriers for Indigenous communities as they work towards increased sovereignty, economic independence and self-determination.

She says thereSA国际影视传媒檚 significant opportunity to do so, but that many nations are bogged down and overwhelmed with the immediate needs of their community, like responding to the opioid crisis, to work more on longer-term solutions.

DeloitteSA国际影视传媒檚 practice will focus on helping in areas of governance, economic development SA国际影视传媒� especially in the natural resources sector SA国际影视传媒� and basic needs like broadband internet and roads.

Foster says thereSA国际影视传媒檚 also clear need to increase training and skills building so that Indigenous workers, which are expected to make up seven per cent of the workforce by 2030, can get jobs.

She says Deloitte has already been doing this sort of work for a while, and been offering heavily discounted rates for Indigenous communities, but with the new practice itSA国际影视传媒檚 taking a more holistic approach with more consistency across the country.

Foster, who is Gitxsan and WetSA国际影视传媒檚uetSA国际影视传媒檈n and belongs to Wilps Niisto, says sheSA国际影视传媒檚 motivated to create opportunities after seeing the disparities around her growing up.

SA国际影视传媒淚 grew up in a small community in the Northwest, saw a lot of resource development happening, yet experienced extreme poverty all around me, and trauma, and was often confused as to why that was happening,SA国际影视传媒� said Foster.

SA国际影视传媒淚 believe that we all deserve the chance to live a better quality of life than what ISA国际影视传媒檝e experienced.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒擝y The Canadian Press