The stories featured in RBC's 2024 edition
of 'A Chosen Journey' celebrate the determination of First Nations,
Inuit and Métis community partners across
Canada
TORONTO,
June 20,
2024 /CNW/ - Today, RBC Origins released the
14th edition of A Chosen Journey: RBC Indigenous
Partnership Report. This year's report features stories that
embody the spirit of the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) –
the hard work, competition, determination and commitment to trying
hard and showing up every day. Each featured story demonstrates the
how our community partners are standing up for what they believe in
and moving past challenges to build a more prosperous future.
Launched in 2008, A Chosen Journey
highlights RBC's commitment to the reconciliation journey – first
put into action in 2007 through the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Assembly of First Nations, pledging to
collaborate with Indigenous community members, organizations and
businesses across three priorities: economies, people, and
communities. Each year, A Chosen Journey marks our progress
and holds RBC accountable to its pledge.
"As each year passes, we deepen our understanding
of reconciliation activities and environmental stewardship
practices. We are proud of our collaborations with the Indigenous
communities, organizations, individuals and businesses profiled in
A Chosen Journey. We continue this journey guided by a deep
respect for the unique social, cultural, historic and innovative
contributions of Indigenous communities," said Chinyere Eni, head of RBC Origins.
This year's report is a celebration of Indigenous
promise, excellence and talent as well as the impact organizations,
communities and community members are making and the power of
teamwork. From the forests to the velodrome to the Arctic Circle
and everywhere in between, our community partners are finding new
ways of winning and protecting traditional ways of being. Some
examples of the initiatives include:
- Ilitaqsiniq is a Nunavut-based non-profit that has a vision to
support capable, confident, self-sufficient Nunavummiut (residents
of Nunavut) connected to the
heartbeat of Inuit culture. The holistic programming embodies a
spirit of "Inu-vation" — the creativity and wisdom of the Nunavut
Inuit – and combines building essential skills with Inuit
traditional knowledge. Programming centers on Inuit empowerment,
engaged child caregiving, land-based learning, food and harvesting,
sewing and cultural industry, and work readiness.
- Community Forests International and Ulnooweg Education
Centre (an Indigenous-led charitable organization) took a
"two-eyed seeing" approach – combining "Western" science and the
long-term multigenerational observational science of the Mi'kmaq
people – to find a solution to managing an invasive species that
was threatening old growth hemlock trees on the shores of
Nova Scotia.
- kihcihkaw askî, which means "This place here is
Sacred" in Cree, is one of the first permanent designated urban
Indigenous ceremonial grounds in Canada, serving 80,000 First Nations, Métis
and Inuit people in the Edmonton
area. The grounds are owned by the City
of Edmonton and operated by the Indigenous Knowledge &
Wisdom Centre under a five-year agreement.
"For decades, RBC has partnered with First
Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples and communities to create positive
social change and drive economic growth. Our recently launched
Truth and Reconciliation Office marks a shift to collaborating with
Indigenous communities in ways that are more holistic, while being
accountable and transparent about the outcomes of our actions and
commitments. That includes building a Reconciliation Action Plan
that will apply the principles, norms and standards of a
reconciliation framework to RBC's corporate policy and core
operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands
and resources," Eni said.
For a full version of the report, please
visit rbc.com/achosenjourney. Initially available in
English and French, the report will also be published in Inuktitut
and Mi'kmaq in the coming weeks.
In addition to this report, our 2023
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Progress Report and
our 2023 Public Accountability Statement also describe how RBC
is supporting Indigenous communities.
About RBC
Royal Bank
of Canada is a global financial institution with a
purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading
performance. Our success comes from the 98,000+ employees who
leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision,
values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and
communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of
the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a
diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing
exceptional experiences to our more than 18 million clients
in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more
at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives
through donations, community investments and employee volunteer
activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.
SOURCE RBC Royal Bank