We are committed to building respectful and collaborative relationships with Indigenous Peoples across Western Canada. Our work takes place on the traditional territories, treaty lands, and unceded lands of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples, and we recognize their inherent and treaty rights. Guided by the principles of UNDRIP, the Government of Canada’s UNDRIP Act, B.C.’s DRIPA, Alberta’s Indigenous engagement guidelines, and the TRC Calls to Action, we engage early and openly with Indigenous communities, integrate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into our engineering and environmental work, and support meaningful Indigenous participation through employment, training, and partnerships. We continue to learn, listen, and improve our practices as part of our commitment to reconciliation and responsible project development. 

Acero’s Indigenous Relations activities will reflect our corporate values and beliefs, and our policies and practices will continue to be integrated into the fabric of our day‑to‑day operations in accordance with this Policy. 

Our Commitment

We are dedicated to advancing reconciliation in alignment with:

• UNDRIP (United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)
• Government of Canada’s UNDRIP Act
• BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA)
• Alberta’s Indigenous engagement guidelines
• Relevant TRC Calls to Action, including Calls 57 and 92

We recognize Indigenous inherent and treaty rights and support Indigenous self-determination.

Guiding Principles

Respect: Honour Indigenous cultures, rights, knowledge systems, and relationships to land and resources.

Collaboration: Engage early and openly with Indigenous communities where our work may have an impact.  Acero believes that creating and cultivating strong and collaborative business relationships contributes to a prosperous Indigenous economy and leads to meaningful Indigenous economic reconciliation.

Cultural Safety: Foster a workplace and project environment free of racism and discrimination, where Indigenous employees, partners, and community members feel respected.

Transparency: Share information clearly and support trust-based relationships.

Environmental Stewardship: Integrate Indigenous perspectives, including Traditional Ecological Knowledge, into environmental planning and engineering work.

How We Work

Engagement & Consultation

• Follow provincial and federal regulatory requirements for Indigenous consultation on oil and gas and infrastructure projects.
• Respect and follow local Nation protocols when engaging with communities.
• Seek to understand community expectations, values, and concerns throughout the project lifecycle.

Employment & Training

• Support equitable employment opportunities for Indigenous Peoples across all levels of the company.
• Provide training, mentorship, and culturally supportive workplace practices, including recognition of cultural and ceremonial needs.

Procurement

• Prioritize partnerships with Indigenous-owned businesses and contractors where possible.
• Encourage service providers to adopt similar Indigenous engagement and procurement practices.

Education & Awareness

• Acero respects the deep history and culture of Indigenous people and believes that understanding is a key component of reconciliation. We require all staff to complete Indigenous Awareness and Sensitivity training and offer additional learnings throughout the year to cultivate a deeper insight into Indigenous cultures and traditions.
• We promote an inclusive corporate culture by developing and implementing corporate practices, driven by policy, to support a workforce that is representative of the Indigenous population of Canada.
• We also expect STAFF Members to apply cultural awareness and respectful practices in field operations, stakeholder engagement, and project planning.

Community Support

• Participate in and contribute to Indigenous community initiatives, youth programs, education, and capacity-building where appropriate.
• Build long-term relationships focused on mutual benefit, respect, and shared learning.

Accountability

All STAFF Members who perform activities for, or on behalf of Acero, are responsible to uphold the principles and foundational elements contained in this Policy. Service providers are encouraged to follow our policies and Acero evaluates service providers, in part, on the basis of their relationships with Indigenous people. We monitor our progress, review this policy every two years, and continue to improve based on evolving laws, community feedback, and best practices in reconciliation and Indigenous relations.