TransLink| BUS 741 Indigenous Business Environment | SFU Masters In Business Administration

Power Point Presentation

Technical Information

Tools Used:

  • Google PowerPoint

  • Adobe Illustrator

  • Adobe Photoshop

Date:

  • Jan 2026 – March 2026

Client:

Indigenous Business Environments | SFU MBA

Introduction

This presentation was created for my SFU Indigenous Business Environments course in my Masters of Business Administration. I helped add in some of the content and also designed the entire powerpoint.

Process

Creating a Base Template

This PowerPoint has graphic elements added from Illustrator and Photoshop.

Slide 2: Table of Contents

  • Land Acknowledgement

  • Purpose

  • TransLink’s Historical Journey with Indigenous Relations

  • The Imperative for Reconciliation – Lessons from History

  • Current Planning Approach and Indigenous Engagement

  • Assessment of Current Commitments & Gaps

  • Indigenous Rights-Holders & Non-Market Risk Analysis

  • Recommended Actions & Co-Development Process

  • Conclusion & Vision

Slide 3: Land Acknowledgement

Simon Fraser University respectfully acknowledges the unceded traditional territories including, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Nations, on which SFU Vancouver is located.

Slide 4: Purpose

Why Now

  • Major transit projects operate on Indigenous lands under consent-based law

Decision

  • How TransLink embeds reconciliation into planning, governance, and delivery

Outcome

  • Fewer project risks and durable partnerships with Indigenous Nations

Slide 5: TransLink’s Historical Journey with Indigenous Relations

Project/Era Legal Framework Relationship Model FPIC Standard Met?
Expo Line 1986 Pre-consultation duty Build first/overlooked No
Canada Line 2009 Duty to consult (post-haida) Consultation
(often strained)		 No
Evergreen 2016 Duty to consult & Accommodate Provincial-Kwikwetlem agreement & cultural integration (Moving toward FPIC) Moving towards it
Broadway Surrey-Langley (2020+) DRIPA/UNDRIP (FPIC) Government-to-Government Co-development & consent agreements (provincially delivered; TransLink provides integration services) Yes, this is the new standard

Slide 6: The Imperative for Reconciliation – Lessons from History

Legal & Business Survival:
The law now demands consent (DRIPA/UNDRIP), not just consultation. Early partnership is the only viable path to on-time, on-budget projects.

Social License Imperative:
Trust is TransLink’s core asset. It’s earned through consistent, long-term partnership, not assumed.

Moral Responsibility:
History reveals an unfinished duty to move from transactional engagement to a permanent, respectful partnership.

Slide 7: Current Planning Approach and Indigenous Engagement

The process:

  • Internal technical planning

  • Provincial & Federal approvals

  • Municipal alignment

  • Late-stage “Stakeholder” Consultation (Indigenous Nations, community groups, businesses)

  • Public announcement & feedback

The Core Issue: Indigenous Nations are engaged as stakeholders, not as rights-holding governments, after key decisions are made.

The Consequence: Indigenous Nations are engaged as stakeholders, not as rights-holding governments, after key decisions are made.

Slide 8: Assessment of Current Commitments & Gaps

Progress (Project-Based)

  • Project partnerships (e.g., Evergreen)

  • Indigenous Relations Department & reporting

  • Cultural recognition in stations

  • Targeted employment programs

Critical Gaps (Systemic)

  • No corporate-wide Reconciliation Action Plan

  • No board-level Indigenous governance

  • No targets for Indigenous employment/procurement

  • Engagement follows “Government-First” model

The Result: Progress is inconsistent and reactive, creating ongoing risk.

Slide 9: Indigenous Rights-Holders & Non-Market Risk Analysis

Rights-Holders ≠ Stakeholders

  • TransLink operates on unceded & treaty lands.

  • Nations are governments whose consent is required.

The Cost of “Government-First” Risk

  • Legal: Non-compliance with DRIPA/UNDRIP.

  • Schedule & Cost: Late engagement = delays & redesign.

  • Reputation: Loss of public trust & social license.

The Opportunity of “Rights-Holder-First”

  • Engage as first partners, not last stakeholders.

  • Transform risk into partnership: co-design, early issue resolution, and shared success.

Strategic Implication: Embedding FPIC isn’t just ethical—it’s essential risk management.

Slide 10: Recommended Actions & Co-Development Process

  • 1

    Rights-Holder-First Planning

    • Engage Indigenous Nations as first partners, not last stakeholders.
  • 2

    Permanent GovernancePermanent Governance

    • Create Board-level Indigenous Advisory Council.
    • Appoint VP of Indigenous Relations.
  • 3

    Actionable Commitments

    • Aligned with TRC Calls #57 and #92: Set targets: 5% procurement, 7% workforce from Indigenous communities. Mandate cultural competency training for all staff (Call #57). Adopt UNDRIP as a reconciliation framework (Call #92).
  • 4

    Measurable Accountability

    • Public annual reports with clear metrics.
    • Tie executive compensation to outcomes.

Slide 11: Conclusion & Vision

The Lesson: Partnership > Consultation.

The Path: A formal Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

The Vision: Transit that moves people and reconciliation forward.

Solution

Overall It was a 15 minute recorded presentation.