Our Impact – Honouring the Work
Our work is rooted in Indigenous values, guided by community voices, and driven by meaningful partnerships.
These featured projects reflect our commitment to trust, collaboration, and creating lasting change.
Treaty 4 First Nations MSA Project (In Partnership with Dextra Services)
Historical Land Claim & Addition to Reserve Research to Support Municipal Services Agreement
kihew is proud to have partnered with Dextra Services in a pivotal initiative to support negotiations for a Municipal Services Agreement (MSA) between the Treaty Four Holding Corporation and the Town of Fort Qu’Appelle. This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering respectful, forward-looking partnerships that recognize and uphold Indigenous rights and governance.
Our approach was grounded in the delivery of expert guidance from both experience and theory, with a strong emphasis on the historical and legal context surrounding the creation of reserves stemming from First Nations land claims. We provided a comprehensive overview of the land claim and Additions to Reserve (ATR) processes, illustrating their historical roots, modern evolution, and how this framework continues to shape the development of MSAs today.
To support informed decision-making, kihew and Dextra Services presented a variety of formula options and policy rationales, outlining where and how these have traditionally been applied. Our team also assessed which models best align with the current context and aspirations of the parties involved.
Drawing from this analysis, we identified and recommended a customized MSA approach—one that honors the unique relationship between the Treaty Four First Nations and the Town of Fort Qu’Appelle, with their roles in upholding the Treaty relationship to work together in friendship for mutual benefit of all parties. This strategy recognizes the shared vision of both communities to build a collaborative, prosperous future. At the heart of the agreement is a commitment to mutual respect, economic development, and sustainable growth for all.
This project showcases kihew’s ability to blend cultural understanding, policy expertise, and strategic foresight to help advance reconciliation through practical, impactful partnerships.
Saskatchewan Health Authority – First Nations and Métis Health
Bringing Traditional Medicines and Healing into the Health System
kihew partnered with the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s First Nations and Métis Health Unit to lead engagement that will guide the respectful integration of traditional medicines and foods into the provincial healthcare system. Our work supports sustainable, culturally safe approaches that honour Indigenous knowledge and protect against the misappropriation of traditional healing practices.
Grounded in trust and collaboration, our engagement surfaced four key themes:
- Recognition and Respect: Embracing holistic Indigenous views of health—connecting physical, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness.
- Cultural Safety: Creating safe spaces by addressing systemic bias and enabling access to healing ceremonies, smudging, and traditional practices.
- Access and Choice: Ensuring individuals can access Indigenous healers and medicines, with the freedom to choose culturally appropriate care.
- Empowerment and Ownership: Advancing Reconciliation by supporting Indigenous communities to guide services and steward their own data and healing practices.
This work lays the foundation for a more inclusive, responsive, and Indigenous-informed health system in Saskatchewan.
Gaming Advisory Services
Asserting Sovereignty Through Gaming Regulation
kihew Consulting & Research works alongside Host Gaming Nations across Canada to assert their inherent rights to regulate, conduct, and manage gaming on their own lands. Our advisory services are deeply informed by the evolving landscape of Indigenous gaming policy—particularly the implications of Bill S-268, which proposes amendments to the Criminal Code of Canada and the Indian Act.
In response, we’ve supported the development of a Draft Framework Protocol that empowers First Nations to proactively shape their own regulatory regimes—ensuring Indigenous jurisdiction remains central as legislative change unfolds. Drawing on successful gaming models from both Canadian (e.g., Saskatchewan, Kahnawà:ke) and U.S. (e.g., Indian Gaming Regulatory Act) contexts, we help build governance structures that are rooted in sovereignty and backed by proven regulatory standards.
This work positions First Nations to lead the future of Indigenous gaming—on their terms.
City of Regina – Indigenous Engagement Framework
Building Trust Through Community-Led Engagement
kihew collaborated with the City of Regina’s Indigenous Relations team to lead a community-wide engagement focused on strengthening Indigenous engagement across the municipality. Our work culminated in a detailed report that captured community voices, identified key priorities, and offered actionable recommendations—including performance indicators to guide implementation.
The engagement revealed a clear call for deeper trust-building between the City and Indigenous Peoples. Prominent themes included the need for meaningful youth engagement, support for Indigenous-determined priorities, and improved communication—highlighting gaps between City initiatives and how they’re communicated to Indigenous residents.
Our approach centered Indigenous voices and emphasized the importance of creating a city that is inclusive, transparent, and responsive. The outcome is a strong foundation for lasting change—where Indigenous Peoples help shape policy, address systemic racism, and rebuild relationships grounded in respect and reciprocity.
Indigenous Business Training for the Government of Saskatchewan – Trade and Export Development
Tailored Learning for Stronger Indigenous Joint Ventures
kihew was engaged by the Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Trade and Export Development to deliver two customized virtual training sessions: Negotiating Indigenous Joint Ventures and Forming Business Networks.
Each 3-hour session reflected kihew’s strength in delivering content that resonates deeply with Indigenous entrepreneurs and community members. We tailored every aspect—from case studies to key discussion points—to reflect real-world business structures, relationship dynamics, and the lived realities of Indigenous communities.
With nearly 40 participants in each session, engagement was high throughout, and dialogue extended well beyond the workshops. The result? Meaningful conversations, practical insights, and stronger capacity for Indigenous-led business development.
Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada
Strategic Alignment Rooted in Indigenous Values
kihew worked with Indigenous Pharmacy Professionals of Canada (IPPC) to support organizational development through a culturally grounded and collaborative approach. Our services included a tailored Cultural Humility session, Indigenous Board Governance Training, and the facilitation of IPPC’s Strategic Planning process.
Through facilitated dialogue and a commitment to Indigenous ways of knowing and being, we helped the IPPC board strengthen alignment, clarify their collective vision, and deepen their capacity to serve Indigenous pharmacy professionals and communities.
This work supported IPPC in affirming their role as leaders in the pharmacy space—grounded in culture, purpose, and accountability to the people they serve.
