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Reconciliation

ACU acknowledges that in Winnipeg our credit union operates on Treaty One land; homeland of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Ojibway, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and the homeland of the Red River Metis. In Thompson and Gillam, we operate on Treaty Five land.

We respect the treaties, the land and the water that sustain us. It is our responsibility to understand the meaning of the treaties, to learn about the truth of our history, and to dedicate ourselves to reconciliation.

As we transform banking in order to create a world where financial services in local communities contribute to a sustainable future for all, we will work in collaboration with all of our relations to ensure that the world we are building is more sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and prosperous for many generations to come.

ACU's reconciliation journey

ACU has been on a path toward reconciliation since the 90s.

ACU’s learning journey is led by the Indigenous Leadership Circle a group of employees at ACU who identify as Indigenous to Turtle Island and our commitments in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action and our commitment to the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord.

We have a long journey ahead of us in this country and in our communities to rebuild healthy and respectful relationships with all our relations. Assiniboine Credit Union is committed to doing our part in that journey.

Our values in action

Early 90s
Leslie Spillett is elected as the first Indigenous woman on ACU’s Board of Directors. Spillett, an activist in the city's Indigenous community, played an important role in crafting ACU as a community economic development credit union and was an instrumental leader in the “Greening of Assiniboine.”

2001
ACU elects Louise Chippeway, a Cree-Ojibway Métis, to its Board of Directors.

ACU’s first Indigenous branch manager, Brian McIvor oversees ACU’s first Community Economic Development branch on Broadway.

2006
As part of its diversity, inclusion and employment equity hiring policy, ACU makes a commitment to hiring and retaining Indigenous employees.
This policy was created in partnership with the Louis Riel Institute, the Manitoba Métis Federation, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and the Department of Competitiveness, Training and Trade of the Manitoba Government. The purpose was to create the Aboriginal Integration Program to assist those who were out of the workforce to find employment.

2008
Indigenous woman Rhonda Forgues is elected to ACU’s Board of Directors.

2012
An anonymous workforce census is created at ACU, allowing employees to self-identify as Indigenous.
The census was created to measure our progress and provide effective diversity and inclusion programs that represents the communities we serve.

2015
The Indigenous Student Bursaries Program is launched as part of ACU’s commitment to the 92nd Call to Action: to ensure Indigenous Peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector.

2016
ACU’s Board of Directors and Executive Leadership attend the National Reconciliation Gathering .

2017
ACU is the first financial institution in Manitoba to sign the Winnipeg Indigenous Accord (First meeting / event in 2018)
United Way Winnipeg creates its TRC 92: Employer Consortium; ACU becomes a member. Its purpose is to provide a forum for business-to-business learning about truth and reconciliation and Indigenous employment.


The Indigenous Leadership Circle is formed at ACU. 

2019
The first Indigenous board chair, Crystal Laborero, is elected to ACU’s Board of Directors.

2021
ACU continues to put values into action through meaningful engagement in reconciliation and gets involved in numerous activities throughout the year. 


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