Fueling the next generation of Indigenous tech leaders: R8dius

R8dius, a new Indigenous-led professional services, technology implementation, and managed services business, pairs Saskatchewan’s Kitsaki Management and Deloitte Canada.

R8dius was born from a shared vision between Kitsaki Management, the economic development arm of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, and Deloitte, one of Canada’s largest professional services firms. Roland Labuhn, managing partner of R8dius, says that this journey began with Deloitte’s commitment to advancing reconciliation and economic empowerment. Deloitte’s extensive 30-year history of working with more than 270 Indigenous communities, businesses, and organizations across Canada laid a foundation for R8dius, which seeks to align Indigenous values with broader Canadian economic goals.

“The partnership model we’ve created is critical because it embodies both Kitsaki’s and Deloitte’s values, while supporting a framework for lasting change, and we are already seeing the impact,” says Labuhn. This aligns closely with Kitsaki’s mission to build self-reliant economic growth and job creation across First Nations in Saskatchewan and beyond, providing corporate and government clients leading complex IT implementation and managed service programs.

Creating a cross-cultural space in technology

R8dius is certified as an Indigenous Business by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) and the Canadian Council of Indigenous Business (CCIB).

According to Ron Hyggen, Kitsaki Management’s CEO, R8dius is designed to bridge gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Canada’s tech and professional services sectors. This goal is achieved by establishing R8dius as an Indigenous-led and majority-owned business, including an Indigenous-led board and executive team. Hyggen says the importance of having Indigenous leaders at all organizational levels to cultivate a culturally welcoming and inclusive work environment is critical. “We’re creating a culture that respects and embraces diversity, where Indigenous and non-Indigenous talent can work and learn together, bringing varied perspectives and experiences to sectors across Canada,” he says.

To ensure the integration of Indigenous values and perspectives, R8dius has embedded Indigenous leaders like Craig Gideon, a former CEO of the Assembly of First Nations, into its business development and talent team. The organization also adopts a hybrid work environment for team members both on and off-reserve, cultivating a professional workplace that respects Indigenous values and worldviews.

“A minimum of one-third of the team is Indigenous, a ratio that we will continue to grow as we support and develop the next generation of Indigenous technology leaders and executives for R8dius and all of Canada to deliver impactful solutions that benefit businesses and communities,” says Hyggen.

Deloitte’s Reconciliation Action Plan as the foundation

Deloitte’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) has played a crucial role in R8dius’ development. Labuhn describes the RAP as a “catalyst” that inspired Deloitte to take actionable steps in hiring Indigenous leaders, building awareness, and fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

Last month, Deloitte Canada launched a Renewed Reconciliation Action Plan, which introduced 15 elevated commitments to strengthen relationships with Indigenous colleagues, clients, and communities.

David Belof, Saskatchewan marketplace leader for Deloitte, says that R8dius’s design aligns directly with the RAP’s core pillars, education, employment, inclusion and economic empowerment.

“Our Renewed RAP and ongoing commitment to Indigenous Peoples have led us to co-found R8dius with Kitsaki Management. This partnership combines the Indigenous perspectives, knowledge, and business strengths of First Nations with Deloitte's breadth of capabilities.”

Deloitte’s involvement goes beyond a typical partnership model. Instead, the firm collaborates with R8dius on various aspects, including resources and systems, to deliver high-quality services at scale.

Creating career pathways and capacity-building in STEM

One of the R8dius’ central missions is to develop career pathways and capacity-building opportunities for Indigenous talent, particularly within STEM fields. Labuhn explains that R8dius has structured its hiring and development processes to include both technical certifications and “soft skills” training to help employees excel in consulting and advisory roles.

“We’re hiring for potential and providing a learning environment supported by mentors who believe in the R8dius purpose,” he says. “The skills can bridge in-demand talent gaps and enable communities across Canada to thrive in a technology-driven future.”

R8dius also collaborates with educational institutions and leverages Deloitte’s resources to offer certifications in specific technology domains for Indigenous employees to acquire valuable, in-demand skills. This approach, combined with culturally relevant mentorship, is designed to accelerate the growth of Indigenous talent and create long-term career opportunities within Canada’s technology and professional services sectors.

Guided by the Eighth Fire Prophecy

R8dius includes a national network of Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders, bringing together unique perspectives and capabilities to deliver world-class solutions and technologies across Canada’s sectors.

A unique element that shapes R8dius’s mission is one Indigenous nation’s Eighth Fire Prophecy, which emphasizes the alignment of Indigenous and Western values to foster mutual understanding and cooperation. Although the Eighth Fire Prophecy originates from a different region than that of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Hyggen says that its message resonates deeply with the spirit of R8dius. “The prophecy emphasizes harmonization between Indigenous and non-Indigenous values, which is exactly what R8dius strives to achieve,” he says.

Labuhn adds that the prophecy’s symbolism aligns with R8dius’s circular logo, which represents unity and interconnectedness across cultures and communities. This collaborative framework, rooted in Indigenous teachings and respect for diversity, aims to drive growth and strengthen the R8dius commitment to economic inclusion, sustainable development and cultural respect.

The road ahead

R8dius represents a collaborative effort between Kitsaki Management and Deloitte to support economic diversification. As R8dius grows, the business will include investors from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and nations, such as Kitsaki, in order to have a significant impact on a larger number of people and make a direct difference in their respective communities.

Through partnerships, mentorship, and a commitment to Indigenous-led leadership, R8dius is setting a new standard for bridging communities and creating new opportunities for the next generation of Indigenous leaders, entrepreneurs, and businesses.