niyâk: for the future (cree)
In the cree language, niyâk means for the future. Our business is named niyâk because the work we do is for future generations to ensure they will be able to live miyo pimātisiwin (a good life).
We are an Indigenous owned, sustainability focused, management consulting firm.
niyâk, pronounced ni-yawk.
our services
At niyâk, we specialize in guiding organizations towards sustainability by reshaping their approach to operations, strategy, and profit models. Our work is designed with an Indigenous and Western worldview, and our perspective is that sustainability strategies should be accessible and attainable for your organization over the long term.
action planning
We develop practical, accessible sustainability action plans built for your organization — not performative documents left unused. Starting with real conversations: interviews, workshops, and engagement sessions with interest-holders. Together we co-create a roadmap with clear priorities and metrics tied to your shared goals.
governance
Building the governance structures that make sustainability work stick is the difference between plans that create action, and plans that lose momentum. Clear accountability, ownership, and long-term integration is key, so sustainability becomes embedded in how your organization operates, not a side project that quietly loses momentum.
training & education
We weave education throughout our work using Indigenous pedagogy, bringing your team along on the journey. This includes sessions on what sustainability means for your organization, space for honest conversations, and helping your people understand the “why” so they become champions rather than skeptics.
implementation support
A sustainability plan is only valuable if it’s actually lived. That’s why we don’t hand you a document and wave goodbye, we stay with you through implementation. Whether that means quarterly check-ins, troubleshooting through challenges, or helping keep momentum when other priorities compete for attention.
about niyâk
Founded in 2024, niyâk is an Indigenous owned management consulting firm specializing in sustainability strategy, action planning, and governance. We work with organizations who want to move beyond the ESG checkbox and create meaningful, lasting change. Our approach is designed with both Indigenous and Western worldviews. We believe sustainability strategy should be accessible and attainable — not another overwhelming initiative that gathers dust on a shelf.
Our philosophy is centered on seventh generation thinking. In many Indigenous Nations, thinking seven generations behind and ahead is a framework for decision-making. Every decision made today impacts children, grandchildren, and beyond. Indigenous worldviews have always understood that the health of the economy, community, culture, and land are deeply interconnected. At niyâk, we bring this perspective into consulting as a way to see possibilities we might otherwise miss.
Our founder, Sydney Wanchulak, has worked with organizations on developing and supporting the creation of sustainability strategies for over 7 years. She has lead and built sustainability teams, and understands the challenges they face inside and outside their organization. Recently, Sydney completed a Masters of Business Administration in Sustainable Innovation from the University of Victoria, further rounding out her skills in supporting organizations on their sustainability journey.
how we work
people centered
We center employees in the development process. Their voices and buy-in are essential to creating a plan that gets implemented.
collaborative
We engage community, partners, and interest holders throughout so your plan is never developed in a silo.
weaving worldviews
We honour both relationships and results, weaving Indigenous and Western worldviews.