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Raven Indigenous Impact Foundation
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Raven Impact measurement

Honouring Indigenous knowledge and measuring impact through core metrics and storytelling.

The Raven Indigenous Impact framework is anchored in an Indigenous worldview, which means that all things are related, connected and respected: every being has a purpose and place within the sacred circle.


An Indigenous worldview honours the seven natural laws: Love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth. The Indigenous perspective governing the RIM framework stems from a 'bicultural lens', which combines a linear process of impact measurement through specific metrics with tradition, culture and spirituality.

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Our Foundational values

Five foundational values help guide our work:

  • Anchored in the Indigenous, acknowledging that collectively, Indigenous people are original inhabitants and caretakers of the land, and can identify their generational roots to this land from time immemorial. The RIM Framework recognizes the great diversity within the Indigenous context, consisting of a vast cultural, regional and linguistic mix of Canada’s different First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.
  • Guided by Culture. Indigenous culture is the guiding force behind the RIM Framework.
  • Indigenous families, communities, and territories at the centre. The RIM Framework places Indigenous families, communities, and Indigenous territories at the centre.
  • Respectful Relationships. The RIM Framework exists and functions as a result of being respectful and trusting.
  • Cultural safety. The RIM Framework will strive to maintain cultural safety for all Indigenous people, regardless of where they are at mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically.
Theory of change

The Theory of Change (ToC) mapping process is a well recognized and useful way to understand how change occurs over time towards a desired outcome. The ToC is a simple and useful framework to establish a path towards creating social impact, often used in conjunction with other methodologies. Within this framework, and other common measurement tools (i.e. ESG screening, SROI measurement of non-financial return, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Sustainable Livelihoods mapping) several metrics are utilized for specific sectors to measure impact from investments (Best & Harji, 2013). These might include household income, job creation, training opportunities, wages, and employee retention as indicators for job creation and poverty alleviation.


Despite the wide use of ToC in impact measurement, some of its limitations are that it is linear in nature and does not account for the inter-related, complex realities of everyday life. Increasingly, this model is being used in conjunction with other approaches, such as the adoption of participatory and/or Indigenous methodologies which both honor the interrelated process of transformation (i.e. level of change) and ensures meaningful participation by those the intervention is most likely to impact.


The RIM Framework builds from this integrated approach, using

  1. ToC model to better understand how the investment will actualize into social, economic and/or environmental change coupled with;
  2. participatory and Indigenous methodologies to both inform impact criteria and affirm underlying causal links over time.

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The process in action.

Impact measurement actions through Ceremony with Investors, Indigenous Entrepreneurs and Community. Engaging our partners and community in the process of determining the outcomes, measuring and sharing the success.

Set goals, outcomes
define strategies
share stories and metrics
Measure levels of "Impact"
learn from indigenous evidence
knowledge transfer
   Set goals, outcomes and expectations - set assumptions for impact

Our intention to setting impact goals and expectations with RICP portfolio companies will enhance the participatory role, cultural integrity and usefulness of our evaluation. This will provide a clear vision of what we aspire to accomplish and what we measure to determine success together.

   Define strategies

Together, we will co-design an implementation plan.

   Collect and share stories and metrics

The RIM Framework is designed to operationalize the act of sharing stories about impact, healing, and resilience building. The RIM Framework will support existing capacity with invested businesses and Indigenous communities, or build new capacity towards articulating the stories of where Indigenous families and communities are currently at, where they want to be, and how they are getting there.

As Indigenous individuals and communities have various ways of sharing their stories, the RIM Framework offers a process that will capture different story-telling methods such as oral or written formats. In addition to collecting stories related to improved social, economic and environmental outcomes for Indigenous families and communities; the RIM Framework will also document specific metrics related to job creation, environmental stewardship, and poverty alleviation among Indigenous families and communities.

   Measure levels of "IMPACT"

The RIM Framework relies on Indigenous businesses, families, and communities to define what they see as impact in addition to the specific metrics referenced here. The RIM Framework recognizes that success can take on different forms and will vary based on Indigenous groups, and timeframes.

Levels of Impact:

  • Eco-system
  • Investors
  • Indigenous Entrepreneurs
  • Community
   Generate, collect, and learn from Indigenous evidence

The RIM Framework is based on the teachings of the Sacred Circle which tells us that we have many ways of knowing a story. Indigenous evidence generated through the RIM Framework will enable comparisons of Indigenous communities, business impacts, and stories across multiple regions and demographics.

    Knowledge transfer & exchange process

The KTE process is designed to translate community stories into meaningful data in order to deepen understanding towards how Indigenous businesses and projects create value for Indigenous Peoples. The KTE process may be expressed through a variety of methods, such as written or oral reports, videos, or traditional practices such as ceremonies. KTE is a “relational” process and relies on open and authentic communication between Indigenous entrepreneurs, Indigenous communities, investors, or governments. KTE can also be thought of as a form of gift-giving and piece of medicine to share, in the spirit of reciprocity to lift Indigenous Peoples.

A message from the Impact Team.

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