Reconciliation Action Plan

At Eckler, we recognize the importance of reconciliation and are committed to building respectful and reciprocal relationships with Indigenous Peoples. Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a testament to our dedication to this journey, and we are proud to share our vision and commitments.

Achieving inclusivity for Indigenous communities requires a diligent and sustained approach. We are confident that the initiatives outlined in this plan can make a real difference — initiatives such as embedding Indigenous perspectives into our business decisions, investing to support economic reconciliation, and, as trusted advisors, knowledgeably providing best-in-class consulting expertise that has a material and lasting impact on Indigenous communities throughout Canada for years to come.

Eckler’s Reconciliation Action Plan complements the firm’s broader Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion journey. It was developed through consultation with Indigenous clients, partners, and employees. This strategy outlines how Eckler is taking steps towards Reconciliation and building collaborative relationships with Indigenous communities.

Land Acknowledgement

We acknowledge that Eckler operates across the diverse and beautiful lands of Canada, which are the traditional territories of many Indigenous Peoples. We recognize and respect the enduring presence and deep connection that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples have with these lands.

We honour the rich histories, languages, and cultures of the Indigenous Peoples who have stewarded these territories for generations. We are committed to fostering respectful relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities, and we strive to uphold the values of responsibility, integrity, and inclusion in all our endeavours.

We acknowledge the importance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and are dedicated to integrating these principles into our business practices. By recognizing Indigenous Peoples as stewards of the lands on which we live, work and play, we aim to contribute to a shared journey of healing and Reconciliation.

Indigenous-inspired geometric artwork by Torrie Ironstar, featuring vibrant symmetrical patterns in pink, blue, green, and burgundy, reflecting traditional motifs in a modern abstract style.

Honouring an Indigenous artist

The RAP features original images by Indigenous artist Torrie Ironstar, a proud member of Treaty 4 and Carry the Kettle First Nation. He was raised in the Nakoda clan bringing a unique perspective and strong cultural knowledge to his art.

Born profoundly deaf and learning sign language at public school, Torrie discovered his artistic talent in grade 11 when he enrolled in an International Baccalaureate art course and started to focus on Indigenous arts. Torrie is a self-taught artist, with a focus on mixed media; he has created a diverse range of works: from plexiglass art to screen-printing to painting on drums to collages to oil paints.

Torrie came out as Two-Spirit in his late 20’s and reclaimed this identity after being forced by his schools not to identify this way. He went travelling across the US and met Two-Spirit people and the communities to learn who he is, while taking his arts into the next level of Indigenous contemporary art style.

Torrie is currently working with Making Treaty 7 Productions as the set designer and visual artist for an upcoming theatre project. Torrie is also collaborating with several artists on future initiatives that focus on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), including Two-Spirit arts. Torrie continues to live in Regina, where he remains active in the arts. He is proud to identify as Nakoda, Two-Spirit, deaf, and an artist.

Torrie’s journey to overcome barriers, reclaim identity, and elevate Indigenous contemporary art embodies the spirit of reconciliation and inclusion that Eckler strives for. By licensing and showcasing Torrie’s work, we are promoting Indigenous voices and creators, a key dimension of the RAP. You can read more about Torrie in this CBC article.

Eckler’s work in support of Indigenous peoples

Indigenous-inspired abstract painting by Torrie Ironstar, oval composition with vivid geometric forms in red, orange, green, blue, and pink, reflecting traditional motifs in a modern style. Eckler is committed to supporting Indigenous communities so they can balance financial and operational stability with sustainable growth while preserving values, culture, and their traditional way of life.

Eckler has established an Indigenous Engagement Team, comprised of senior firm leaders. This working group is focused on Indigenous relations and employee education to ensure our team is knowledgeable and able to leverage our consulting expertise to the benefit of the hundreds of Indigenous communities throughout Canada.

Our consulting services have included:

Providing expert witness advice in support of class action settlements between Federal and Provincial governments and Indigenous communities.
Implementing governance arrangements to ensure the security of substantial financial settlement funds.
Designing and implementing investment policies to promote financial security for current and future generations.
Advising on the sustainability of settlement funds, accounting for community spending plans including infrastructure, housing and education, pension, benefits and savings programs and uncertainty in eligibility and longevity of a First Nation’s membership.
Providing consultative services and guidance on setting fair and competitive pay programs for employees of First Nations and First Nations-owned businesses.

We are proud supporters of various Indigenous organizations and are committed to doing our part in contributing to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action. Our efforts have focused on Call to Action #11 to help First Nations students receive post-secondary education through scholarships. This includes:

Sponsoring the M. David R. Brown Scholarship in Actuarial Studies at the University of Manitoba, now restructured to prioritize Indigenous applicants.
Supporting the Actuarial Foundation of Canada’s Equality of Opportunity Scholarship, which promotes diversity in actuarial science, mathematics, statistics, data management, and computer science. This scholarship helps Indigenous, Black, and other students of colour in Canada pursue post-secondary education.

About the plan: Vision for Reconciliation

Our vision for Reconciliation is to make a material, meaningful, and lasting impact on Indigenous communities throughout Canada for years to come. We aim to create a culturally aware and inclusive workplace, be a trusted partner for Indigenous Peoples, build collaborative relationships, and foster allyship. We are dedicated to fostering the growth and success of Indigenous Peoples by supporting self-determination through capacity building and knowledge exchange.

Eckler’s RAP is structured around four key commitment areas:

Governance and Leadership
Education
Employment
Impact and Relationships

Each area includes specific commitments, progress measures, timelines, and ownership.

Truth: Promoting truth through knowledge building and cultural exchange is at the foundation of Reconciliation.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan Commitments

Governance and Leadership

Dimension	Commitment
Policies and Processes	Increase consideration of Indigenous Peoples and principles across current policies Review all policies to integrate Indigenous principles and RAP initiatives.
Policies and Processes	Establish remote work opportunities for Indigenous candidates Review remote work policies to remove geographical barriers.
RAP Governance	Ensure RAP commitments receive appropriate oversight, priority and profile through leadership messaging Establish a RAP Implementation Committee to monitor and lead RAP commitments and ensure consistent communication of RAP objectives and progress.
RAP Governance	Formally adopt RAP commitments as organizational priorities through leadership oversight
Indigenous Inclusion and Leadership	Empower leaders to promote Indigenous cultures: Deliver training on Indigenous principles to leadership teams.
Indigenous Inclusion and Leadership	Increase awareness of Eckler’s Reconciliation journey and RAP efforts through messaging from leadership

Education

Dimension	Commitment
Cultural Awareness Training	Increase awareness of Indigenous experiences Establish a comprehensive cultural awareness training program
Cultural Awareness Training	Promote Indigenous voices and creators Use internal platforms to promote multimedia content by Indigenous authors and creators.
Communications	Empower Eckler employees to learn about the history of their Treaty area and how to communicate their own Reconciliation journey through Land Acknowledgements Develop a Land Acknowledgement Guide
	Encourage employees to complete the Indigenous Canada Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) from the Faculty of Native Studies at the University of Alberta
	Provide ongoing education through year-round content: Promote participation in Indigenous cultural events and days of reflection

Employment

Dimension	Commitment
Organizational Culture and Conduct	Promote Indigenous representation in workspaces
Recruitment	Build relationships with Indigenous candidates and increase their employment opportunities with Eckler Develop thoughtful and respectful content that showcases the employment opportunities for Indigenous candidates at Eckler
	Build relationships with Indigenous candidates through universities where Eckler sponsors scholarships and those that produce graduates with skills applicable to consulting roles, including investment, technology, compensation, and pension consulting, e.g. those with accredited actuarial programs. Update recruitment processes to support Indigenous applicants.
	Leverage Indigenous organizations, community associations and Indigenous student groups to advertise job postings and student opportunities
	Provide Indigenous Awareness Training to recruiters and interviewers; review and update values and competency interview question bank to ensure it is decolonized
	Foster early-career interest in the consulting profession with Indigenous students and enhance career pathways through mentorship Partner with the Quality Education Employee Resource Group to identify external mentoring opportunities with secondary and post-secondary Indigenous students to enhance career pathways into the consulting profession.
	Enhance supports through inclusive benefits programs Review employee benefits to include culturally relevant options

Impact and Relationships

Dimension	Commitment
Supplier Diversity	Empower Indigenous businesses Update procurement processes to encourage use of Indigenous vendors wherever possible Amend the vendor assessment questionnaire to allow for tracking vendor ownership (Indigenous, women-owned, etc.) to measure and report on progress. Engage with Indigenous economic development organizations to identify membership opportunities to connect with Indigenous suppliers
Capacity Building and Volunteerism	Support Indigenous self-determination through knowledge exchange Formalize a capacity-building program.
	Invest in relationship-building with Indigenous leaders Create opportunities for leaders to connect with Indigenous communities.
	Engage professional bodies to build industry capacity Establish partnerships to support Indigenous Peoples and reconciliation efforts.

Our intentions for the next steps include continuing to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into our work, our culture and future RAP iterations. We are committed to transparency and accountability in our Reconciliation journey.

To learn more about Eckler’s Reconciliation journey, please reach out to us here. A member of our Indigenous Engagement team would be happy to connect.

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