Loop’s Professional Pledge of Reconciliation
In the spirit of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada
By the Loop Team | August 2020
Based on the pledge created by Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.
The Loop studio is situated on the sacred territorial land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.
Our ability to work and live here now—in Tkaronto, Canada—is a direct benefit of policies of expulsion and assimilation of Indigenous peoples during the time of settlement and since. The harms of these policies are many and are still being felt in Indigenous and First Nations communities today.
We have a responsibility as beneficiaries of these policies, to acknowledge and understand this history and the current experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. This understanding must inform the work that we do so that we can stop perpetuating the damages of colonization, and begin to repair them.
In the spirit of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada, we, Loop: Design for Social Good, solemnly pledge to:
Commit to honouring #92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s calls to action for reconciliation, Business and Reconciliation.
- Commit to the use of the word “settlers” in land acknowledgements and other reconciliation language.
- Provide internal education in the form of lunch & learns and other avenues for staff to collectively unlearn colonial Canadian history & improve our understanding of Indigenous history and tradition.
- Make educational resources available in the office for staff to reference regularly.
- Invest in professional, up-to-date in-person training for our leadership and staff.
- Routinely reach out to our Indigenous partners to find and offer opportunities.
- Make space for intentional collaboration with Indigenous artists, designers and other partners on relevant and compelling projects.
Support progressive improvement in our Indigenous relations by participating in the Progressive Aboriginal Relations (PAR) program of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business by 2022.
Ensure and encourage employment and career development opportunities for Indigenous candidates.
- Consistently reach out to our Indigenous partners when job opportunities become available.
- Keep an up-to-date list of opportunity platforms that specifically reach Indigenous people.
Create a working environment that is inclusive and welcoming for Indigenous employees, clients & partners.
- Prominently display an accurate and specific land acknowledgement both in-studio and on our website.
- Invest in office artwork that is created by local Indigenous artists.
- Ensure staff and leadership are using the preferred, correct and up-to-date terminology when speaking and collaborating with our Indigenous partners.
- Recognize Indigenous People’s Day as a paid holiday at Loop.
Identify contracting or procurement opportunities for Indigenous businesses, artists, designers, partners & vendors.
- Broaden the reach of our posts about partnership opportunities to reach more Indigenous creators.
- Create and maintain an up-to-date roster of Indigneous collaborators.
- Prioritize Indigenous collaboration not just on related projects, but on as many projects as possible.
Commit to generating positive and lasting change in our professional and personal lives.
- Commit to ongoing and open-ended education about Indigenous history and issues.
- Commit to Indigenous representation in imagery & media across our project platforms.
- With permission, use our social channels to amplify indigenous voices and shed light on Indigenous causes.
The Loop Team
August 2020