When Travis Klemp stepped into the role of Manager of Indigenous Strategy for MakeWay’s Shared Platform in 2023, it might have seemed like a shift from his previous roles. Over the years, Travis has been a policy analyst, editor, creative writer, and community engagement specialist. But for Travis, this transition felt natural—a continuation of his work amplifying the voices and efforts of Indigenous communities.    

At MakeWay, Travis’s unique blend of skills, combined with his grounded, community-centered approach, made him an ideal fit to lead meaningful changes to the Shared Platform. The platform hosts nearly 60 community-led projects, offering them access to charitable expertise and operational infrastructure so they can focus on their missions. Each project benefits from a dedicated team providing support in areas like grant administration, payroll, tax receipting, and access to group benefits.   

The platform has become a welcoming space for Indigenous initiatives, which often face unique challenges in accessing the charitable sector. Among the projects we are honoured to support are Dene Nahjo, Gaagige Zaagibigaa, and the Nawalakw Culture Project—all advancing transformative work to restore food systems, strengthen connections to language and land, and uplift youth.   

Building Relationships and Fostering Cultural Safety 

Travis, who is Red River Métis-Cree, joined MakeWay at a time when communities and nonprofits are navigating immense challenges. Nearly half of Canada’s nonprofits are seeing increased demand for services, while grappling with rising costs, staff burnout, and recruitment struggles.   

For Indigenous organizations, these pressures are compounded by systemic inequities and underfunding, with less than 1% of charitable dollars in Canada reaching Indigenous-led initiatives. Many leaders in these organizations are also balancing the demands of their work with personal and community healing—often without access to culturally appropriate resources.   

Recognizing these realities, Travis’s role focuses on building on the Shared Platform’s existing strengths to foster an even more supportive and culturally safe environment, ensuring Indigenous-led projects have the resources they need to thrive. “MakeWay does a great job of working with projects in ways that fit with and respect their ways of working and being,” Travis explains. “But there is a need for more intention, thought, and care in how we approach relationships with Indigenous projects.”   

In the coming year, Travis will collaborate with staff and projects to develop a strategy for the Shared Platform that embeds culturally appropriate practices and cultural safety throughout the model. While this strategy is still in progress, some steps—like cultural safety training for MakeWay staff—are already underway. “An Indigenous Strategy for the platform will position us to work in new, supportive, and meaningful ways with Indigenous-led projects,” Travis shares.   

Expanding Support Services for Indigenous-Led Projects 

Beyond creating a culturally safe environment, Travis is also focused on expanding the range of support available to projects. Since joining, he has taken the time to connect with many projects, gaining a deeper understanding of their goals and capacity needs. 

Common areas for growth have emerged—such as fundraising, strategic planning, and culturally grounded governance practices. Travis emphasizes that his approach is to meet projects where they are: “Where do you, as a project, feel you want and need to grow? And how can we support that?” To address these needs, he is exploring various training options, from group workshops to one-on-one coaching, often facilitated by Indigenous partners.   

A key initiative on the horizon is the creation of communities of practice for Indigenous projects. “We want to make sure projects have opportunities to connect, learn from each other, and share their work,” Travis explains. “That sense of connection and networking is something Indigenous projects are really seeking on the platform.”   

Helping Indigenous Projects Transition to Independence 

Another key part of Travis’ role is enhancing the support MakeWay offers to Indigenous-led projects seeking to become independent charities. The Shared Platform often serves as an accelerator for charitable grassroots initiatives, providing essential start-up infrastructure to help these groups grow in preparation for transition to their own Indigenous-led structures. 

Currently, Travis and other members of the Shared Platform team are supporting four Indigenous-led projects on their journey to independence. This includes advising on immediate needs like employee contracts and benefits, as well as long-term planning. “The goal is to empower these projects to manage their operations and feel excited about their future,” Travis explains.   

 Looking Ahead   

As Travis reflects on the road ahead, he is deeply committed to building trusting, long-term relationships with colleagues and projects on the platform. For him, the end of a project’s time on the platform doesn’t mark the end of the relationship—it’s about continued support and connection.   

MakeWay is also reaching beyond the platform to engage with Indigenous changemakers, learning more about their needs and exploring new ways to support their leadership. Upcoming initiatives include cohort-based learning opportunities and community circles focused on healing and connection. We are also adapting existing programs, like Innoweave, to better serve Indigenous organizations.   

 Travis’s work is a vital part of our commitment to supporting Indigenous-led change in meaningful ways. It’s also a step toward our vision of an equitable and uncolonized charitable sector—one that values and uplifts the vital contributions of Indigenous organizations, ensuring they have the resources to realize their transformative visions.