Beyond Performative: Real Action on Reconciliation with Deborah Green

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Forward Together podcast, host Rod Miller speaks with Deborah Green, a proud Cree woman from the Kawacatoose and Piapot First Nations in Saskatchewan and one of Canada’s most influential voices on Indigenous reconciliation. With over 25 years of professional and personal experience in equity, diversity, and inclusion, Deborah has dedicated her career to breaking down systemic barriers and building pathways for Indigenous economic participation and prosperity.

She shares her journey of growing up “living a colonial existence,” navigating racism in her early career, and finding her calling in Indigenous recruitment, workforce development, and organizational transformation. Deborah discusses the importance of authentic leadership, the role of Indigenous voices at decision-making tables, and why action—beyond performative statements—is critical for reconciliation. Her perspective highlights both the resilience required to lead this work and the cultural shifts organizations must embrace to create meaningful change.

Key Takeaways

• Deborah Green’s life experiences shaped her commitment to creating new possibilities for future Indigenous generations.

• Growing up avoiding the “scoop” of her siblings gave her firsthand understanding of systemic barriers faced by Indigenous peoples.

• Early career challenges—including overt racism—fueled her drive to transform corporate Canada’s approach to Indigenous employment.

• Indigenous recruitment and workforce strategies must focus on inclusion and retention first, not just hiring.

• Leadership plays a central role: reconciliation initiatives succeed when senior leaders deeply understand and prioritize them.

• Indigenous leadership brings a different worldview, rooted in servant leadership and cultural teachings, that organizations must recognize.

• Trust, relationships, and outreach are foundational to Indigenous hiring and inclusion success.

• Effective strategies are action-based: moving beyond statements of support to measurable results.

• Indigenous worldviews—like the Seven Sacred Teachings—can and should be embedded into leadership models.

• Deborah hopes her legacy is paving a sustainable path others can follow, ensuring Indigenous peoples are safe, respected, and able to thrive in Canada.

Guest Bio: 

Deborah Green (Gopher) is a proud Nēhiyaw iskwêw (Cree Woman) from Kawacatoose and Piapot's First Nations in Saskatchewan who has emerged as one of Canada's most influential voices in Indigenous reconciliation and organizational transformation. With over 25 years of professional and personal lived expertise in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), Deborah has dedicated her career to breaking down systemic barriers and creating pathways for Indigenous economic participation and prosperity.

Currently serving as National Lead Specialist for Indigenous Workforce Development at Suncor Energy since 2018, Deborah leads the national Indigenous Workforce Development strategy, focusing on governance, advocacy, and development of workforce strategies that increase Indigenous representation, inclusion, leadership & career development, and retention. Her role involves collaborating directly with Indigenous communities to understand their needs, strengthen employment readiness, and create culturally appropriate hiring and retention strategies.

Deborah's career trajectory showcases her evolution from technical recruitment to becoming a transformational leader in Indigenous workforce development. Her groundbreaking work at Shell Canada from 2009-2017 as Senior Diversity Recruiter & Diversity Advisor/Strategist established her as a pioneer in the field—she w