Indigenous Partnerships

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Building opportunities for stronger communities

Black Diamond recognizes our responsibility to the local communities that are affected by our business. We invest in our communities through people - by nurturing local community relationships and by providing and developing local infrastructure.

It's our focus on corporate flexibility and diversity that allows us to grow alongside those communities we serve.

Black Diamond Group’s Indigenous partnerships have increased community capacity and delivered positive economic results for all parties involved. They are structured around an approach to Indigenous engagement that is proactive and long-term.

Our Indigenous partnerships are located across Western Canada and offer the full suite of Black Diamond services from our businesses: Black Diamond Camps & Lodging, BOXX Modular, and Black Diamond Energy Services.

Black Diamond has been recognized with multiple Aboriginal Business Awards, and we foresee a continued bright future for each of our partnerships.

Award Winning Partnerships Throughout Western Canada

Black Diamond has been formally recognized for our work with the following awards:

2017 – BC Aboriginal Business Award, Industry Business Partnership of the Year – Black Diamond Cygnus (Partnership with West Moberly First Nations)
2013 – Industry Council for Aboriginal Business (ICAB) – Corporate Champion for Aboriginal Business
2012 – BC Aboriginal Business Award, Best Joint Venture – Black Diamond Cygnus (Partnership with West Moberly First Nations)
2011 – BC Aboriginal Business Award, Best Joint Venture – Black Diamond Dene (Partnership with Fort Nelson First Nation)

2017 BC Aboriginal Business Award

Black Diamond Cygnus, our partnership with West Moberly First Nations, has won the Business Partnership of the Year – Aboriginal-Industry Partnership award at the 2017 BC Aboriginal Business Awards. Learn more about the awards.

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Active in Our Communities

Black Diamond Group holds membership in multiple Indigenous business organizations, including CCAB (Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business), and CFAR (Circle for Aboriginal Relations) Society. In all of our partnership territories we strive to hire Indigenous and local employees first, and this is communicated to our sub-contractors in these regions.

Black Diamond Dene

In September 2009, Black Diamond and the Fort Nelson First Nation entered into an exclusive equity-based agreement called Black Diamond Dene LP.

The goal of this business is to provide customers in the Horn River Basin with a quality, competitively-priced product while allowing the Fort Nelson First Nation people an opportunity to participate and benefit in the development of their traditional lands.

The partnership is structured to improve local capital and offer community members the chance to start their own businesses and create sustainable careers.

Black Diamond Cygnus

In January 2011, Black Diamond entered into a second Indigenous partnership within the Treaty 8 First Nation, signing an agreement with the West Moberly First Nations, located southwest of Fort St. John, British Columbia.

This agreement is equity-based and further supports Black Diamond’s commitment to beneficial Indigenous engagement.

Black Diamond Nehiyawak

In June 2012, Black Diamond Group entered into an exclusive partnership agreement with the Beaver Lake Cree Nation (BLCN) near Lac La Biche, Alberta, called Black Diamond Nehiyawak.

The partnership will address oilsands activity and other resource developments in the BLCN territory in northeastern Alberta.

Whitecap Black Diamond

In December of 2014, Black Diamond Group entered into an exclusive partnership with Whitecap Dakota First Nation near Saskatoon, SK called Whitecap Black Diamond LP.

Expanding our partnership base in the Province of Saskatchewan will provide customers with quality, competitively-priced product while providing Whitecap Dakota First Nation more opportunities to participate and benefit from the development happening in Saskatchewan.

Indigenous Business Relations and Guidelines

Black Diamond Group strongly believes in Indigenous inclusion and demonstrates this through community activities and our business policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are outlined in Black Diamond's Indigenous Business Relations and Guidelines.

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2013 Aboriginal Youth Day

On April 9, 2013 four deserving youth from Black Diamond’s partnership territories took part in the Black Diamond Aboriginal Youth Day at Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in Calgary.

The day included motivational interactions and activities with Canadian Olympians meant to inspire participants to further develop leadership qualities and build foundations for positive growth, teamwork, and self-confidence. In the evening, sponsors, chaperones and community leaders gathered for dinner, celebrating the accomplishments of promising Aboriginal youth.