To date, existing consulting services have failed to provide adequate attention and sensitivity to the needs and expectations of Indigenous clients. This fragmented and uneven approach forces clients to accept services that do not properly reflect their needs and desires, and ultimately mutes the voice of Indigenous peoples – especially in the spheres of business and politics.
Now more than ever, Indigenous clients need a consulting service that truly understands their unique needs, and they deserve culturally appropriate expertise that will help them realize their distinct vision and achieve success on their own terms.
Apoqon was founded in order to address the gaps that exist within contemporary Western consultancy approaches, and infuse Indigenous knowledge, methodology, and values within spaces where such practices are sorely lacking.
Our logo’s design is based upon the fiddlehead (or “Ma’susi’l” in Mi’qmaq), a traditional food of the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq and Passamaquoddy First Nations peoples which was also used for healing purposes. The name of our business, Apoqon, is derived from the Mi’gmaq word “Apoqonmuati” which means to “provide assistance.”
Ultimately, it is our goal to augment, as well as highlight the advantages of an Indigenous approach in the areas of business, strategy, culture, technology, and government. We plan to achieve this by amplifying the voices of Indigenous groups and organizations in the Canadian economy through our business support services and advance knowledge with original research on Indigenous socioeconomics, governance, and other pertinent issues.
Emerging technologies and approaches to Indigenous consulting signal a moment of extraordinary opportunity for Indigenous voices to become even more significant and influential.
WHY APOQON
At Apoqon, we do consulting differently. Instead of offering clients formulaic solutions that do not address their unique needs, our team carefully considers the diverse perspectives that every one of our clientele brings to the table before developing solutions that are comprehensive, culturally-appropriate, and cost-effective.
As Indigenous businesses and organizations continue to rapidly grow and command market share, there has never been a greater need for consulting that truly understands the distinct culture and viewpoints of Indigenous peoples. That’s where Apoqon comes in. As an Indigenous consulting firm, we are founded upon strong Indigenous principles, and we also bring with us an extensive and diverse range of interdisciplinary experience when working with each and every client. From research and writing, to policy development, governance advice, and strategic planning, Apoqon is there to create innovative Indigenous solutions for any challenge that comes along.
What we do
Our team of consultants have a proven track record of excellence in research with extensive public and private sector experience, we are committed to addressing your research needs as they relate to a variety of contexts. Whether you’re looking to conduct social, historical or heritage research; the Apoqon team will work diligently to deliver a body of research that is both factual and relevant to the story you’re telling. Our team has access to libraries of academic research materials to ensure you get the best possible information in an exceptionally written product that is easy to understand and navigate. Our projects typically follow a four-phase approach: (i) methodological framework design; (ii) research and data collection; (iii) analysis; and (iv) results and reporting.
Research specialties include:
| Ethnographic Research
Policy Analysis Quantitative Analysis Primary Research Secondary Research Capacity Building and Training |
SWOT/SWOC Analyses
Feasibility Studies Business Plan Preparation Industry Profiles IT Investment Business Case Analysis |
Apoqon is devoted to providing premium writing services at competitive industry rates. With our vast writing experience throughout a diverse-range of sectors, you can be assured that the Apoqon team is capable of generating business write-ups, creating reports, conducting detailed editing, and producing other written work that will align with your needs, as well as the vision you have for your business. Furthermore, Apoqon diligently works alongside clients to ensure that our written products are appropriate to the context and culture to which they serve.
Writing services include:
- Comprehensive Report Writing
- Whitepapers
- Case studies
- Proofreading and Editing
Lately, a number of our research projects identified a strong need for innovative approaches to addressing and responding to conflict among our Indigenous clients and those looking to work with Indigenous groups and populations. To address this need, Apoqon has developed a workshop that helps reimagine conflict not as an adversarial situation that only has a win-lose outcome, but as a sign – and an opportunity – for learning, organizational improvement and Nation building. Providing a platform for communities and organizations to discuss how conflict can be transformed into something useful, the workshop provides approaches for transforming conflict, and includes activities and a guidebook that introduces some of the tools and best practices of this approach.
Workshop length can be tailored to any individual or organizational need: from three one (1) hour ‘lunch & learn’ style seminars, to a full two (2) day workshop for teams. The workshop can be delivered in person or online/virtually through video conferencing.
Apoqon’s mission is to assist our clients in realizing their goals and actualizing their fullest potential. Throughout any stage your business may be in, Apoqon’s team will work closely alongside you to determine the steps needed to enhance or grow your business, or simply help you begin with a fresh business plan. Apoqon also offers various in-depth business analysis services which can help guide your business to where it needs to go. Additionally, Apoqon also expertly facilitates stakeholder and knowledge-gathering sessions in order to help develop clear and concise strategic plans that will drive our clients towards further success.
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Socio-economic Impact Analysis Cultural Sensitivity Feedback Strategic Communications Key Performance Indicator Development |
Workshop Facilitation New Technology Impact Assessment Regional and National Development Strategies Policy Evaluation and Recommendations |
The core tenet of our business is to enhance yours. We work closely with our clients to determine IT solutions that are uniquely suited to their needs, without any added complications. Our team is experienced in deploying internal IT solutions such as cloud storage, email and CRM tools. We offer a competitive edge in our practical application of IT knowledge and solutions that are designed to relieve the stress of overly complex IT infrastructures by creating connectivity and synergy between applications and devices.
In addition to providing IT solutions, Apoqon boasts over 20 years of experience in web development across a variety of platforms. Our team of web developers are experienced in Content Management Systems such as Drupal and WordPress. We are proud to provide web experiences to clients seeking to enhance their online presence through search engine optimization and dynamic content creation.
Our Values
As a business whose approach and practises are uniquely Indigenous, we are strongly informed by a desire to help Indigenous peoples overcome systemic barriers and achieve empowerment and success. Whether that is producing reports that shine a spotlight on Indigenous knowledge systems, or developing workshops to decolonize community conflicts, Apoqon believes that as a business, we have an obligation to help create more culturally-inclusive systems and build healthier communities. Because our vision of a successful business is grounded in helping the collective, we are proud to support other Indigenous businesses and initiatives that share our vision of success.