ALE Webinar Series: Applying Indigenous Approaches in Federal Evaluation: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Based on the overfilled session at the Annual Learning Event, CES-NCC is bringing you a series of Lunch & Learn webinars in April.

Buy your April webinar package for:

FREE for ALE delegates
$50 for CES Members
$75 for Non-Members

April 8, 2025
Applying Indigenous Approaches in Federal Evaluation: Challenges and Lessons Learned

As part of the federal commitments to advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, the Evaluation Branch at Indigenous Services Canada seeks new ways to implement evaluation methods and approaches centered on Indigenous worldviews and knowledge systems. Using the ongoing evaluation of the Economic Development Capacity and Readiness Program as site of inquiry, this presentation explores a hybrid evaluation methodology that both adheres to Treasury Board of Canada’s Policy on Results and centers Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

This presentation will:

Provide a foundational context for and understanding of the methodology, including how it blends Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada requirements with Indigenous approaches. This section will include examples such as: an overview of the foundational framework developed by the Indigenomics Institute; the role of an Opening Ceremony to “Bear Witness” to the launch of the evaluation; approaches used to ensure that Indigenous Peoples and communities had a guiding role in all phases of the evaluation; and emphasizing community-defined measures of success.
Discuss challenges and lessons learned while implementing this framework within the bounds of the federal system, such as adhering to timelines and processes of the federal government, while respecting the timelines, processes, and wishes of communities; and honoring our mistakes and missteps.
Present a reflective, “so what?” discussion, which will analyze how this pilot exemplifies ISC Evaluation’s objective to transform its practice, the perceived benefit that this innovative approach provided, and how the learnings from the pilot could be adapted for future work.