Cummins Canada Joins CCIB PAIR Program to Strengthen Indigenous Partnerships


11/11/2024


Cummins Inc is dedicated to delivering top-quality solutions for its customers, helping to empower local and global communities. Central to Cummins' success is its unwavering focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion—an approach that thrives on the strength of differences.
 
To celebrate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples and further its mission to build lasting, impactful relationships with Indigenous businesses and communities, Cummins proudly announces its new "Committed" status in the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB) Partnership Accreditation in Indigenous Relations (PAIR) Program.
 
Shashiraj Shanbhag, Cummins Vice President of Product & Service Management in Canada and head of the company’s Canada Indigenous Relations initiative, shared, “Our efforts in partnering with Indigenous communities in Canada have been ongoing for years. This recent step to join the PAIR Program at the Committed level offers Cummins external validation for the work our teams have done, along with fresh opportunities to expand our impact. Achieving PAIR certification is a fantastic step in helping us evaluate and enhance our commitment to fostering relationships with Indigenous communities across Canada.”
 
The PAIR Program’s Role 
The PAIR Program, created by the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business, serves as a comprehensive third-party certification framework assessing corporate performance in Indigenous relations. It examines outcomes across four key areas: Leadership Actions, Employment, Business Development, and Community Relations.
 
Since 2001, PAIR has been a prominent corporate social responsibility standard focusing on Indigenous engagement, supported by third-party evaluation and overseen by a panel of Indigenous business experts. As a PAIR Committed member, Cummins will participate in external verification and collaborate with CCIB and Indigenous stakeholders to reach the ultimate objective of Gold Certification.
 
Cummins Canada's Contributions 
Cummins' commitment to PAIR reflects its broader efforts to cultivate a diverse, inclusive culture worldwide, including building stronger ties with Indigenous Peoples in Canada and globally. Key steps taken by Cummins Canada include:
Forming an Indigenous Relations team of approximately 15 active volunteers across Canada Completing Indigenous Awareness Training for over 1,400 Canadian employees Investing over $100,000 in Indigenous community initiatives focused on Education and Equity through Cummins Grant support
 
As a global organization, Cummins Canada continues to strengthen relationships with Indigenous communities nationwide and is actively seeking new ways to support these communities. By engaging its workforce in initiatives that foster respect and collaboration, Cummins reaffirms its dedication to positive, sustainable change in the communities where it operates.
 
Click here to know more about Cummins’ ongoing commitment to not only Indigenous communities but to the many communities employees live and serve throughout the world.