The seven-section, 52-page report provides an overview of Indigenous trade and export, an examination of the rights of Indigenous peoples, current provisions and examples of initiatives, as well as recommendations.

Government research has shown that increasing access to markets for Indigenous businesses is key to closing economic gaps between Indigenous peoples and the non-Indigenous population, which economic analysis conducted by the National Indigenous Economic Development Board, has reported would grow the Canadian economy by $27.67 billion.

To facilitate Indigenous trade, the report found there is a need to:

• Gather and distribute Indigenous exporter data.
• Build the capacity of Indigenous organizations and businesses to engage in trade efforts and build connections with prospective foreign buyers and business partners.
• Support Indigenous organizations to provide Indigenous export development training and opportunities.
• Increase access to finance, infrastructure, and affordable logistics.
• Foster necessary connections between Indigenous entities and government organizations such as the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC), as well as mutually beneficial Indigenous business relationships.

The report also looks at the potential impact of incentivizing economic and private investment in Indigenous communities and businesses, protections for Indigenous traditional knowledge and cultural expressions, the effective use of free trade agreements, and many other topics.