Inclusion Education Employment Economic empowerment
Widening the shared path for reconciliation
Year-three update on our Reconciliation Action Plan
Land acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Deloitte offices reside on traditional, treaty and unceded territories which is now known as Canada and is often referred to as Turtle Island by many Indigenous Peoples. We acknowledge this land is still home to many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. We are all Treaty People.
CEO message
When I think of our reconciliation journey, I’m reminded of the words of Governor General Mary Simon, which she shared to mark the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. “Reconciliation is a way of life, continuous, with no end date. It is learning from our lived experiences and understanding one another. It is creating the necessary space for us to heal.”
With this spirit of continuous growth and healing in mind, I am proud to share our Reconciliation Action Plan year-three update report. Since 2020, Deloitte has taken meaningful steps to strengthen trust and rebuild relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples -- staying true to our purpose to help and inspire all others to thrive through access to knowledge and opportunities, as well as to our shared values to foster inclusion and to take care of each other.
This report offers a detailed account of the incredible work across Deloitte to advance our reconciliation journey, step by step. I encourage you to read this report in full, but I’d also like to spotlight a few key advances.
This year we highlighted voices of the next generation of Indigenous leaders through our Future of Canada Centre, which launched a report to gather insights and perspectives from Indigenous youth across the country. This report shed light on this group’s leading concerns, including top issues they want to see addressed by political leaders and how their communities are experiencing climate change first-hand. By listening to these voices, we can enact necessary and targeted change.
Within our own walls, we know that we need more Indigenous voices at the table. That’s why we onboarded a new team of Indigenous professionals to develop our Indigenous Talent strategy. These leaders are exploring innovative hiring initiatives, aligned with Indigenous ways of knowing, doing and being, to help us foster and promote Indigenous talent across Deloitte.
Finally, I’m delighted to share that our firm was awarded a silver certification from the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, becoming the first professional services firm to earn this designation. This recognition reflects our work prioritising support for Indigenous businesses and community relationships and how we have followed through on our commitment to bolster economic empowerment.
Thank you for reading this report and learning more about our reconciliation journey. By collaborating across communities and organisations, we will create the space for healing to make an impact that matters.
Hear directly from our leadership team on the steps we've made and the strides we'll take as we advance on the path of reconciliation—together. Learn more in our latest report.
June 2023 marks three years since the release of Deloitte's Reconciliation Action Plan, the first formal plan in corporate Canada to answer the call to action made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Over the last three years, many have joined us on the path to reconciliation and empowerment. We’ve made collective progress as an organization and country—but there’s still more to be done.
At Deloitte, we continue to make strides under the four pillars of inclusion, education, employment, and economic empowerment. We are pleased to share our year-three update, as further evidence of our commitment to accountability as a firm and the advancement of reconciliation.
Amplifying Indigenous voices and nurturing relationships with Indigenous peoples, clients, and communities is crucial to shaping the future of our country. Want to learn more? Contact us at indigenous@deloitte.ca
Artist statement
“The image that you see above is a Saemauh, a tobacco plant. It is done in the Ojibwe pictography style, a style used to carry our legacy of storytelling down through the generations. The seven leaves represent the seven morals and codes that the Anishinaabe people use to walk in balance with all of creation; these are love, courage, truth, respect, humility, wisdom, and honesty. Deloitte’s Reconciliation Action Plan has four pillars so, within the tobacco plant, you’ll see four tiers to represent this; these are inclusion, education, employment, and economic empowerment.”
Nyle Miigizi Johnston
Nyle Miigizi Johnston is an Anishinaabe artist and visual storyteller from the Great Lakes territory. Originally growing up in Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, his work often takes inspiration from Ojibwe woodland art, combining his cultural traditions with universal messages of love, kindness, fairness, and care for Mother Earth, as well as more personal themes of identity and healing.
A continued path forward
There is a reason we refer to our plan as a journey: while we continue to make significant progress, there is still a long road ahead to decolonize our firm. I am committed to continuing on this path and ensuring we are indigenizing the way we think, the way we speak, and the way we act at Deloitte Canada.
Chi-miigwetch to the inspiring Indigenous leaders and allies who continue to help break down barriers and ensure we are focused on the following goals:
- Increasing awareness of Indigenous history and cultures by creating an environment of curiosity and continual learning;
- Building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities to help create trust as well as opportunities for positive results and meaningful alliances;
- Promoting and sustaining economic opportunities for Indigenous businesses;
- Encouraging Deloitte professionals and practitioners to participate in the reconciliation journey through learning and awareness, as well as through involvement in Indigenous cultural events;
- Creating an inclusive workplace that honours the history of Indigenous peoples, celebrates Indigenous cultures and traditions, and supports our Indigenous colleagues;
- Focusing on attracting Indigenous professionals, practitioners, and clients to Deloitte for future collaborations, community initiatives, and employment opportunities.
