ABOUT US
The "Roots" - A story behind the company...
Structure & Core Beliefs of DMG
Diversity Management Group (DMG) is an Aboriginal sole proprietorship that is registered in the Province of Nova Scotia since 2000. Owned and operated by CEO, Mr. Robert Bernard, DMG focuses heavily on the ability to help increase the capacity of individuals, communities, businesses and organizations. We also strive to create these same opportunities for industry and government in terms of offering the quality transfer of information, training, employment, contract and capacity development.
At DMG, we believe that through the development of our business and the implementation of our long term visions and goals, along with attracting and partnering with some of the top local Aboriginal consultants, we will be able to build opportunities not only for ourselves, but for our people. We believe that this will generate opportunities for Aboriginal businesses, individuals and communities in their quest for self sufficiency in today's mainstream world and society.
Creating and sustaining meaningful benefits is quite a challenge with so many things that will come into play with respect to having Aboriginal firms prepared and ready for work and participation in various projects. At DMG, we have been able to help many Aboriginal firms to better approach and prepare for bidding on contract work at many different levels.
Understanding Aboriginal Issues
As an Aboriginal business owner, Mr. Bernard really does understand the challenges and complexities that exist at the community level as he was raised in a Mi'kmaw First Nation community and continues to live there with his family. This helps to provide a better understanding of the situation and realizing that each situation may require a different touch.
DMG also realizes that there are political issues that require very delicate discussions and processes that take time to sort out with community, governments and industry (especially in scenarios where land, resources and access are at play).
We support the need for these types of discussions and development as we know that this will lead to long term benefits for our people in the long run.
Autonomy in Communities & Business
We also know that not every community, business and individual are the same and as such we do need to create trusting relationships and work together to find common solutions.
We will work with you to create realistic goals and set up a plan that will ensure that all of the pieces of the puzzle are brought together for a long lasting and successful initiative.
The creation of socio-economic opportunities that include the greater good of community will work towards improving the overall well-being of the people and extended family.
Building Our Communities Ourselves
At DMG, we STRONGLY believe that the ability to build strong communities and business is right within our own hands and decision making powers.
In 2005, DMG was instrumental in developing the Indigenous industry relations strategy which lead to the creation of the Unamaki Economic Benefits Office. This work was the result of two contracts with the Unamaki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) to develop proposals to identify industry related opportunities, investments and key strategic partnerships that the Indigenous people of Cape Breton should invest into. This strategy also focused on developing long term partnerships with the trade unions, PWGSC and other Government departments.
Then in 2007, DMG's President & CEO, Mr. Robert Bernard was part of an Aboriginal Economic Leakage Study that identified over 75 million dollars of economic leakage was taking place right in our own backyard (at the time it was based on the five (5) Mi'kmaw communities of Unama'ki (Cape Breton).
In this study over 80% of the leakage was going to non-Aboriginal firms. If we calculate this it means that over 60 million dollars more could potentially go back into our own communities. A couple of years later another similar study was conducted but this time it focused on the household spending by Mi'kmaw families in Cape Breton. This new study also clearly showed that most of our spending with every day items is spent away from our communities which again creates an enormous economic leakage of dollars in our communities. Many new businesses could be created to help address the increasing leakage of dollars from an administrative & househood spending perspective.
DMG's experience in business, procurement and community deveopment positions itself in a very unique way in that we understand the capacities that need to be identified, we understand the policies and investments that need to be made, we understand the contract and procurement guidelines that need to be considered and implemented as strategies that would allow our communities to start addressing and maximizing on our own flow of dollars that are right in our own communities... dollars that we have access to, dollars that we have the ability to make choices with, dollars that we can target towards building and strengthening our own economies.
It is also very interesting to note that more and more Aboriginal community enterprises are starting up in various First Nation communities resulting in an increased number of jobs, as well as a place for many of our recently graduated and skilled labour force to work closer to home with their families close by. These are newly established community economic drivers that have started the process of addressing the leakages in terms of hiring people and companies but we still have a ways to go yet in terms of developing a comprehensive and sustainable Aboriginal investment strategy for business development.
At the end of the day it's about producing positive results for your business, your organization or your community. This is the core of what DMG believes in and stands for and we have believed that since Day 1 and we continue to believe that it is possible, let's work together to start making some of these realities for our people.
Should you require any further details or would like a call to arrange a presentation in person please contact us at your convenience and we will be happy to work with you to find ways to meet the needs of your community, business or you as an individual client in need of support services.
Email: info@dmg-osi.com
Phone: (902) 302-3300 cell/text
DMG History & Expertise
DMG has delivered mulitiple contracts in the oil and gas, fishing, sports & recreation as well as the health industry for over 15 years primarily. This work has primarily taken place in the Atlantic Region but has recently branched out to create joint venture partnerships to provide these same services Canada wide in 2013. (See more under our partner link at www.idobusiness.ca).
DMG has also worked diligently to provide quality liaison service efforts in both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities in an effort to build sustainable relationships in business & community development.
DMG helps communities & organizations to identify gaps and challenges within their systems that exist at the community levels and help to prepare strategies on how to address these barriers.
We will also help to focus on the development of policies that are fair, produce results and in consultation with the community so that there is continual understanding and support when it comes to working on both short term and long term goals.
DMG Work History includes the following list of contracts:
2000-2004: Aboriginal Liaison Support Services (SOEP).
Sable Offshore Energy Project - Providing key
recruitment, retention & contract developoment
services to the oil and gas industry. Co-creator
of the first Aboriginal Business Association in
Atlantic Canada called "Aboriginal Alliance of
Companies (AAC)". Specific duties included
identifying qualified Aboriginal persons and
companies to participate in the Offshore Oil &
Gas industry through the SOEP.
2000-2007: DMG's President & CEO, Mr. Robert Bernard
continued to provide ongoing consultation and
support services for Nova Scotia's Aboriginal
Sport & Recreation organization (MYRACL).
This included province wide grassroots based
program development services for Aboriginal
communities, Regional & Provincial Program
Development initiatives (teams/individuals) &
maintain the day to day business operations &
funding negotiation of the organization. This
included multiple presentations to a number of
government departments in all of the Federal,
Provincial & Aboriginal government levels. It
also included a long term negotiation to have
Sport & Recreation recognized as one of the
seven (7) recognized Tripartite Working Group
Committees (with S&R being the last one).
2000-2007: DMG expands it's services to offer Aboriginal
Liaison Support Services to other Oil & Gas
Industry partners & signs short term contracts
with Pan Canadian Pipelines, Anadarko
Pipelines, Encana Resources as well as
government initiatives such as the Sustainable
Communities Initiative (SCI). DMG also begins
to utilize some previous expertise in video and
cable television knowledge & starts producing
local mini-documentaries for organizations, it
produces five (5) in a span of three (3) years.
DMG also established a community cable tv
channel in a First Nation and generates new
funding for an organization through a unique
form and uncommon revenue stream model.
2000-2015: Have delivered on multiple contracts in sectors
involving health & wellness, sport & recreation,
oil and gas industries, fisheries agreements,
Provincial/Federal/Aboriginal contracts that
target Aboriginal capacity development for
businesses/individuals/communities/org's.
2000-2015: Have created numerous short & long term joint
venture partnerships aimed at providing First
Nation communities with large scale project
opportunities for communities. These projects
focused on the creation/expansion/support for
new and existing opportunities for community,
business and individual growth & success.
2007-2015: DMG expands services into Cultural Tourism.
Support services provided to an Aboriginal
Culture & Heritage Centre and a new door is
opened in another sector. DMG helps to put
together project proposals aimed at supporting
local cultural development and helps to bring
a very successful list of projects to the WCHC.
(Wagmatcook Culture & Heritage Centre).
DMG's CEO Mr. Robert Bernard sat as one the
Executive Board members and in 2016-2017 sat
as the Chairperson for the national body of the
Aboriginal Tourism Association of Canada.
2010-2018: DMG presents at various National Conferences
I DO BUSINESS. National Conf inToronto (2013)
I DO BUSINESS, National Conf in Winnipeg (2015) AFOA (Aboriginal Financial Officers Assoc.) held in
Halifax (2015), the 2014 International Aboriginal Tourism Conference in Whistler, British Columbia and in 2016 in Membertou, Nova Scotia. Also in
2017 presented at the Hawaiian International
Tourism Conference as well as the recent 2017
GoMedia International Tourism Conference in
Halifax, Nova Scotia. These presentations
typically center around Aboriginal business
deveopment, procurement, tourism as well as
community planning & economic development.
2015: DMG secures a contract with an International
Camp & Catering company (Williams Scotsman
of Canada). This contract required services from
DMG on the development of a New Brunswick
First Nation approach in terms of introducing
them to the company, the potential opportunities
that exist with multiple projects identified for the
New Brunswick area in the next 5-10 years.
2016: DMG secures contract with Wagmatcook First
Nation to manage Wagmatcook Culture & Heritage
Centre operations and community cultural tourism
strategic planning initiatives.
2018: DMG secures contract with the national office for
the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada as
the Atlantic Region Strategic Partnership Liaison.
This work focuses on creating partnerships in the
Atlantic Region focusing on creating capacity in the
new and existing businesses that are targeting their
participation in the mainstream tourism industry.
There is also a focus of supporting the growth of
authentic products, experiences and creating key
investments in cultural restoration.
2019: DMG works towards developing partnerships to
advance Indigenous Food Sovereignty in N.S.
OSI partners with Indigenous Climate Action (ICA)
national organization to deliver workshops on
Indigenous Climate Change in Atlantic Region.
DMG works with Tribal Council organization to
facilitate sessions on environmental protection.