Truth comes from the brain, Reconciliation comes from the heart: Cadmus Delorme

“Truth comes from the brain. Reconciliation comes from the heart,” says keynote speaker Cadmus Delorme at the 2024 Economic Partnership Summit in Lloydminster.

The former chief of the Cowessess First Nation referenced the 2022 Indigenous Strategy for Canada to make the case for Indigenous economic partnerships.

“When we have reconciliation – and we are going to hit it one day, our GDP in Canada will increase by 1.5 per cent or $27.7 billion. This is factoring a domestic relationship between Indigenous people and Canadians. It will also contribute to 135,000 jobs annually,” says Delorme, who sees economics as foundational in where “we are going together.”

When he left being chief in 2023, Cowessess First Nation had over 8,000 acres of land under agriculture production. Also, while its first sustainable energy project only involved five per cent Indigenous people, its second venture to provide some 10 megawatts from solar energy using panels which followed the sun, involved over 20 per cent Indigenous workers.

He says Decolonization means you should be able to succeed in a Canadian worldview without sacrificing an Indigenous worldview. He reflects that Canada is on the road to Reconciliation for the last nine years compared to a country like New Zealand that has been reconciling for some 50 years.

“In the 70s, the Māori and New Zealand people stopped fighting. They just realized they live in two different worldviews. After 50 years their economy is the strongest in the Commonwealth. Their education is very strong. You see it in their sports and Haka when they intimidate their competitors.”

“In Canada we have been doing this for nine years. And, so we are just nurturing a nine-year-old baby together.”

Delorme continues, “When you inherit something, you have to do something about it. We have to give time and respect for the Truth and when we truly hit Reconciliation, we are going to have a quasi-relationship with Canadians.”

Turning to new Canadians who also have inherited the history of Residential Schools, he sees the importance of new Canadians to the economy.

“When a new Canadian gets here, we just have to make sure that the right orientation is provided on the truth between Indigenous people and Canadians. The ones that can really understand the truth are going to have an advantage. In Canada, to know an Indigenous worldview, you are going to have a competitive advantage. So, take advantage of that.”

He says, “Indigenous people do not want pity. We want parity.”

Delorme notes that in 2024, the way to allow both canoes to travel side by side is to provide the resources for Indigenous people to catch up.

Cadmus Delorme is currently the partner and founder of OneHoop Advisory Services.