What Creative Fire does

Creative Fire is a 100% Indigenous-owned professional services firm headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, founded in 2000 and fully acquired by Des Nedhe Group, the economic development arm of English River First Nation, in June 2020. The firm operates as a national communications, engagement, research and creative agency with an integrated service portfolio spanning strategic consulting (reconciliation advisory, Indigenous procurement advisory, ESG materiality assessment, strategic planning), community engagement and communications (strategy, facilitation, Indigenous insights, capacity-building workshops), and creative services (brand strategy, campaign development, content creation, photography, videography, web design). Two proprietary assets anchor its consulting practice: a Current State Assessment Tool for Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) development and an Indigenous ESG Materiality Algorithm designed to integrate Indigenous perspectives into corporate sustainability reporting while maintaining compliance with global standards.

Name

Creative Fire

Legal name

Creative Fire

Website

https://creative-fire.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Creative Fire is a 100% Indigenous-owned (English River First Nation) national communications, engagement, and research agency serving enterprise and government clients across mining, energy, banking, and public sector with reconciliation, ESG, and culturally grounded creative services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Engagement Consulting

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Graphic Design Services (541430)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Cause, ESG & Sustainability Communications (MPAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG/Sustainability Reputation & Purpose Communications (MPAAAOAN), Integrated Full-Service Creative Agencies (MPAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Indigenous engagement consulting
• Reconciliation strategy advisory
• Community engagement services
• ESG materiality assessment
• Brand strategy design

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Consulting Services: Professional consulting services delivered through Government of Canada supply agreements including ProServices (Applications Services, Business Services, Project Management), TBIPS (Task-Based Informatics Professional Services), THS (Temporary Help Services - Communication Services), and TSPS (Task and Solutions Professional Services).
2. Strategic Consulting & Advisory: Custom consulting engagements including strategic planning, reconciliation advisory, ESG consulting, and Indigenous procurement advisory for corporate and government clients.
3. Community Engagement & Communications: Communications strategy, community engagement, and facilitation services delivered through project-based engagements with enterprise clients.
4. Creative Services: Brand strategy, design, campaign development, content creation, photography and videography services for clients across mining, energy, financial, and government sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Creative Fire is a 100% Indigenous-owned national communications, engagement, and research agency providing Indigenous-led strategic consulting, brand and design, communication strategies, reporting, and community engagement services to enterprise and government clients across Canada. The firm specializes in Indigenous engagement, reconciliation strategy, Indigenous ESG materiality assessment, and Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) development, anchored by a proprietary Current State Assessment diagnostic and Indigenous ESG Materiality Algorithm.

Product overview

Creative Fire is a 100% Indigenous-owned national communications, engagement, and research agency offering an integrated suite of professional services organized into three main practice areas: Consulting (evaluation frameworks, impact reporting, indigenous procurement, reconciliation advisory, strategic planning), Community Engagement & Communications (communications strategy, community engagement, indigenous insights, workshops & capacity building, facilitation), and Creative Services (brand strategy & design, campaign development, content creation & storytelling, copywriting, photography and videography). The firm also offers specialized services including ESG Materiality Assessment with indigenous perspective integration, Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) development, and Indigenous-led research, policy and education grounded in Indigenous Knowledge Systems. The company operates across key industries including nuclear energy and SMRs, energy production (hydro, renewables), mining and resources, financial institutions, and public sector major projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indigenous Engagement and Reconciliation Strategy Consulting Strategic advisory on Indigenous engagement, reconciliation strategy, and stakeholder relations for enterprise and government clients navigating duty-to-consult obligations and ESG commitments.
• Community Engagement Services End-to-end community engagement design, delivery, and reporting for resource, energy, and infrastructure projects requiring structured Indigenous and community consultation.
• Brand and Design Services Brand strategy, visual identity, and design services delivered with Indigenous cultural competency for enterprise, government, and Indigenous clients.
• Communication Strategy and Reporting Communication strategy, messaging, and structured reporting services for Indigenous-related and ESG communications programs.
• Indigenous ESG Materiality Assessment Structured materiality assessment applying a proprietary Indigenous ESG framework to identify priority environmental, social, and governance issues for corporate reporting.
• Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Services Development, rollout, and advisory support for organizational Reconciliation Action Plans, including governance, milestones, and reporting frameworks.
• Research, Policy and Education Services Indigenous-focused research, policy analysis, and education services delivered to enterprise, government, and Indigenous clients.
• Current State Assessment Diagnostic assessment of an organization's Indigenous relations maturity, providing a baseline against which progress on reconciliation commitments can be measured.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reached 5,000+ young people with anti-bullying message through Dunk Out Bullying tour
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• ScotiabankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 October 2024Scotiabank partnered with Nch'ḵay̓ Development, Des Nedhe Group, and Chippewas of Rama First Nation to create Cedar Leaf Capital, Canada's first majority Indigenous-owned investment dealer. Creative Fire developed the company name, logo, and branding for this groundbreaking financial services venture focused on supporting Indigenous economic growth.
• GroupM CanadacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 July 2024Formalized partnership between Creative Fire and GroupM Canada (WPP's media investment group) focused on driving investments and opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and businesses in Canada. The partnership encompasses four core value streams: research and thought leadership on Indigenous audiences, cultural competency education, increasing Indigenous representation through recruitment into GroupM's Launch Pad program, and co-created teams delivering client results.
• Procter & Gamble (Crest + Oral-B)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Creative Fire partnered with Procter & Gamble's Crest and Oral-B brand for the 'Closing Canada's Smile Gap' campaign to raise awareness of oral health disparities in Indigenous communities and build connections with Indigenous communities through grassroots organizations providing dental health products.
• Des Nedhe GroupflagshipOthers · 23 June 2020Creative Fire is a 100-percent owned subsidiary of Des Nedhe Group, the economic development arm of English River First Nation in Saskatchewan. Des Nedhe Group owns or has significant investments in companies in construction and maintenance of mines and power-generation facilities, assembly and maintenance of mining equipment, fabrication and welding, retail operations and property management. This parent company relationship provides Creative Fire with real-life operational experience and deep Indigenous community connections.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Animikii Inc. Indigenous-owned Canadian digital agency offering web, brand, and communications services to Indigenous communities, governments, and organizations. Closely comparable to Creative Fire as a fellow Indigenous-led creative and strategy firm serving enterprise, government, and Indigenous clients across Canada.
• Mekanic Media: Indigenous-led creative and digital agency producing content, campaigns, and brand work for Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients in Canada. Directly comparable to Creative Fire's brand strategy, campaign development, and content creation services with shared Indigenous-led positioning.
• The Narratives Group: Indigenous-owned Canadian communications and engagement consultancy serving corporate, government, and Indigenous clients on reconciliation, engagement, and strategy. Comparable to Creative Fire's Reconciliation Action Plan development, ESG advisory, and community engagement offerings.
• PowHERhouse Impact Media Group: Indigenous women-led marketing and impact media firm producing campaigns and storytelling for Indigenous and enterprise clients in Canada. Comparable to Creative Fire's campaign development, content creation, and brand strategy work, with a similar Indigenous-led creative services orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Deloitte Canada Indigenous Practice: Deloitte Canada's Indigenous Services practice provides reconciliation advisory, Indigenous procurement, and engagement support to enterprise and government clients. A broader incumbent competitor that bundles Indigenous engagement into multi-disciplinary consulting engagements, competing for the same RFPs.
• KPMG Canada Indigenous Services: KPMG Canada's Indigenous practice offers advisory, audit, and tax services with Indigenous engagement and reconciliation components. Comparable as a competitor on enterprise reconciliation mandates and government Indigenous procurement opportunities where scale and full-service delivery are decision criteria.
• Edelman Canada: Global PR firm with a dedicated Purpose and ESG practice serving enterprise clients on sustainability communications and stakeholder engagement. Comparable to Creative Fire's ESG communications and stakeholder engagement work as part of a broader global agency portfolio.
• Juniper Park\TBWA: Canadian creative agency (TBWA network) with documented Indigenous-focused campaigns, including the "7 Sacred Teachings" platform for TD Bank. Competes with Creative Fire on enterprise brand and campaign work targeting Indigenous audiences, but as part of a broader full-service agency offering.

Others

• GroupM Canada: WPP's media investment group in Canada and Creative Fire's formal 2024 partnership counterpart for Indigenous audience research, cultural competency training, and co-delivered client work. Adjacent partner rather than competitor, but the closest strategic distribution relationship for accessing WPP's enterprise roster.
• Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB): National Indigenous business chamber providing procurement matchmaking, certification, and relationship facilitation between Indigenous businesses and corporate Canada. Adjacent ecosystem player that influences the same buyer pool (PSIB-certified Indigenous suppliers) and partners rather than directly competes with Creative Fire.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/creative_fire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Creative Fire