The importance of incorporating environmental, social, governance (ESG) criteria and Indigenous Reconciliation into procurement is increasingly coming into focus. We’re working with suppliers and our Members across the public sector to build a sustainable supply chain that prioritizes Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, helps protect the environment and delivers long-term value.
Mohawk Medbuy (MMC) is fully embracing our responsibility for Indigenous Reconciliation. As one of Canada’s largest shared services organizations, we’re committed to responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada’s Call to Action 92 in meaningful, concrete and impactful ways.
Indigenizing our procurement practices has many benefits. It’s an important component of a resilient and sustainable health care supply chain. And fostering the participation of Indigenous businesses supports economic growth for Indigenous Peoples and communities.
Together with our Members, vendors and partners, we’re helping to unleash the enormous potential of Indigenous businesses and working to grow their influence across Canada’s public sector.
As a CCAB Aboriginal Procurement Champion, we’re committed to empowering the participation of Indigenous businesses across Canada’s public sector supply chain. Learn more.
Our Indigenous LaunchPad helps foster relationships between Indigenous businesses and our Members across the public sector.
Headquartered in Hay River, NWT, Medical, Surgical and Safety Supplies Limited (MSS) is the largest Indigenous-owned medical company in Canada and is committed to giving 51% of its net proceeds towards supporting Economic Reconciliation in Indigenous communities.
MMC worked closely with MSS Ltd. in their creation of their Indigenous Community Giveback Program, through which MSS donates proceeds from the sales of co-branded personal protective equipment (PPE) to support local First Nations communities, including:
Funding scholarships for Indigenous youth in science, health and pre-med programs
Building relationships with local First Nations to advance sustainable economic opportunities
Helping provide safe and accessible health care to Indigenous families and communities
Learn more about the Community Giveback Program here.
MMC continues to collaborate with MSS to achieve meaningful Economic Reconciliation by increasing the social value of procurement across Canada.
Many of our Member organizations have their own Economic Reconciliation commitments, which may include Indigenous cultural awareness training as well as targets related to the procurement of goods and services from Indigenous businesses.
With our national scope and established relationships with diverse Reconciliation partners, MMC is helping our Members achieve their own Reconciliation objectives. Send us a message using our Contact Us form to find out how we can support your Reconciliation Journey.
Mohawk Medbuy began as Mohawk Hospital Linen Services in 1970. Our understanding is that the use of Mohawk in the company name was chosen to reflect the original facility’s proximity to Mohawk Road in Hamilton, Ontario and to pay homage to the Indigenous heritage of the region it served.
As MMC has grown and evolved, so too has our organization’s knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and histories. In 2021, MMC consulted with Chief Mark Hill of Six Nations of the Grand River to seek his guidance on our organization’s name. Chief Hill shared his perspective that MMC’s use of Mohawk was a “positive tribute,” and that we should continue our Reconciliation Journey.
MMC continues to seek the advice and support of local First Nations to guide all Reconciliation work to ensure that we’re genuinely and materially demonstrating commitment and reverence to our Mohawk namesake. Learn more here.
We at Mohawk Medbuy acknowledge that our offices and work span across Turtle Island on the traditional and treaty territories of many Indigenous Nations, spanning from the unceded territory of the Peace and Friendship Treaties, to the Anishinaabe Nations and Haudenosaunee Confederacy territory in the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant and Two Row Wampum Belt Treaty, the Anishinaabe of the Robinson-Superior Treaty and beyond. This land remains home to many Indigenous Peoples – First Nation, Métis and Inuit, and we as Treaty People are grateful to be able to work, live and heal across all these territories.
We acknowledge that since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have been, and continue to be, rights holders and traditional stewards of the land to which they share a deep connection to. This is a connection of kinship and connectedness, as all living things are seen as equals and relatives whom we all have a reciprocal relationship with. We at Mohawk Medbuy share in gratitude and respect for traditional knowledge, and we are dedicated to advancing truth and reconciliation in our communities. We commit to create, nurture and hold spaces where everyone has safe and equitable access to health care. As we reflect on our important connection to this land where we learn, work and heal, may Indigenous Peoples continue to be our inspiration to make each life better.
