b'AdvertorialDeloitte Canadas evolution alongCoupled with these realizations, and having met or exceeded many of the commitments of our initial RAP, the shared path of reconciliation we knew it was time to embark on the next stage of our By Alexandra Biron | Senior Manager, Deloitte Indigenous, journey. And in order to do so, we knew we would need to seek more voices to help guide us. The result is our and National Reconciliation Action Plan Leader renewed RAP, Expanding Horizons, which arose from more than a year of extensive focus and efforteven M utual respect and understanding are the necessarymore intensive and far-reaching than the process we components of meaningful exchange. Recognizing undertook to develop our original RAP. This included that this extends to communities and society at large,seeking firm-wide feedback; immersive discussion Deloitte Canada went beyond the next step of simply sessions among groups of firm members and leadership; paying lip service to reconciliationand insteadthe launch of internal working committees; extended acknowledged the need for consequential action. consultations with Indigenous community members and Indeed, it was the drive to restore trust and strengthenbusiness leaders; rigorous market and report reviews; relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenousand, in December 2023 and January of 2024, two in-communities, organizations, and people that led us todepth summits involving Indigenous and non-Indigenous become the first corporation in Canada to actively includeDeloitte colleagues from across the country, during which reconciliation as an organizational goal. we shared our views on the firms commitment to, and That first major step, taken in 2020, yielded our initialprogress toward, our reconciliation goals. Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which establishedWhat we learned throughout this time of focused and defined our four key pillarsinclusion, education,reflection and active listening allowed us to see that employment, and economic empowermentaimed toour reconciliation vision and path had expandedfrom acknowledge past wrongdoings and help dismantle thefostering meaningful change among our people, our systemic barriers faced by First Nations, Inuit, and Mtisclients, and our communities, to taking a more active Peoples in Canada, including those in the communities instep toward broader accountability to, investment in, and which we operate and the clients we serve. Since then, incorporation of First Nations, Inuit, and Mtis worldviews weve made great progress toward our original goals.in everything we do. We further realized that we must Despite the challenges we have faced along the way, weincrease our efforts to promote Indigenous economic take pride in the progress we have achieved, includinggrowth and self-sovereignty. These and other insights making a difference in the lives of 20,000 Indigenous youthhelped shape our four new North Star aspirationsvia pro bono and volunteer work, and awarded post- which include working harder to ensure Deloittes Talent secondary scholarships to more than 150 First Nations,Value Proposition (our commitment to an exceptional, Inuit, and Mtis students. Weve expanded our relationshipsupportive career experience at the firm) is mindful of with Indigenous Youth Roots, helping to amplify theIndigenous talent, and dedicating ourselves to the Seven voices of Indigenous youth by providing a platformaGenerations principle, wherein actions today should be series of reports weve publishedwith which they canundertaken to promote sustainability for at least the next better share their perspectives, often overlooked, onseven generations.reconciliation efforts to date, as well as recommendationsEverything weve done since we took that first official for progress. Weve also further developed our relationshipstep on the journey of reconciliation has helped shape with the charitable organization Indspireto help fundour renewed RAP, and were excited to share it now. educational opportunities for Indigenous studentsandExpanding Horizons: Deloittes Renewed Reconciliation Action our collaboration with the Gord Downie & Chanie WenjackPlan details our progress, learnings, and evolution in our Fundparticularly, their Legacy Spaces Program, whichongoing journey, and includes 15 elevated commitments encourages conversations about and inclusion of Indigenousacross our four pillars (inclusion, education, employment, perspectives in the workplace and beyond. Weve increasedand economic empowerment) to continue to guide us the number of Indigenous businesses in which we invest andforward. It represents the Indigenous and non-Indigenous The path of reconciliation, walked together.Indigenous suppliers with whom we work. Weve launchedvoices at Deloitte who are inspired by the growing sense our Nation Building practice, the first in the professionalof empowerment among First Nations, Inuit, and Mtis services industry that is fully led byand servingWeve renewed our Reconciliation Action Plan Indigenous Peoples and communities. And we co-createdPeoples, and who look to us to play an elevated role in R8dius, an Indigenous-majority-owned professional services,that growthan opportunity and privilege we dont take with 15 new commitments technology-implementation, and managed-services businesslightly.that works to advance Indigenous opportunities in realms including STEM training and Indigenous procurement.But as proud as we are of our progress and the impacts weve made, were inspired to have seen more than 60 Scan the QR code to learn more While were honoured and proud to collaborate onother organizations committing to a RAP since we first launched ours. We know that, for reconciliation to be deloitte.ca/reconciliation undertakings that have measurable impact on Indigenoustruly meaningful, we must all work together to learn, Peoples, businesses, and communitiesas well as a broaderimprove, and ensure everyone in Canada can thriveinfluence on other Canadian organizations, as evidencedinclusively and equitably. Were hopeful this collaboration, by the increasing number of RAPs being created since wecooperation, and countrywide journey will continue.announced our original pledgewe humbly acknowledge Echoing our vision for a shared future, this artwork reflects the greater call to action.that this journey of reconciliation has not been without The bear represents courage to embrace change, and the buffalo symbolizes respectsignificant challenges and lessons. We continue to learnLearn more about Deloittes Renewed Reconciliation for our collective path forward. Together, they echo our commitment to a future for all. from our experiences and recognize that each new step onAction Plan and how it aims to elevate the goals for this shared path has offered us additional opportunitiesthe organization to make an impact that matters for Artwork by Joe Tapaquon in collaboration with Nyle Miigizi Johnston for reflectionand with these, ongoing possibilities forFirst Nations, Inuit, and Mtis colleagues, clients, and readjustment and improvement in the steps ahead. communities across Canada.'