Deloitte Canada Champion of Indigenous Reconciliation Plan: Meet Fiona Kirkpatrick Parsons
I’m a very proud nehithaw-iskwew (Woodland Cree woman) with Scottish immigrant heritage, a member of Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Treaty 6 territory, in northern Saskatchewan, Canada, I have been living in beautiful Kjipuktuk, Mi’kma’ki (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), on the unceded, traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq people for more than 23 years.
My spirit name is Standing Elk, Eagle Clan, and was given to me in ceremony about 25 years ago.
Professional role: Senior National Advisor / kā-nīkānīt*, Deloitte Indigenous, advising on Deloitte Canada’s work with Indigenous businesses and communities, and providing overall guidance to firm leadership around issues that matter to Indigenous peoples. I am also a passionate champion of Deloitte's Reconciliation Action Plan, which was the first of its kind published in corporate Canada in 2020.
On the volunteer side of things, I chair the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, am on the board of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, and the 2025 Canada Games. I also mentor new Canadians, Indigenous youth, and young professionals. As well, I currently volunteer with the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia (Community Grants Selection Committee), the BMO Ride For Cancer (Leadership Cabinet), and the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame (Inductee Selection Committee). I was deeply honored to be named one of Atlantic Business Magazine’s inaugural 2021 Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business, named by PoweHERhouse Media as one of the Top Ten 2021 Changemakers in Canada, and the 2021 Atlantic Honouree at the annual Women Against Multiple Sclerosis gala for community-building.
*kā-nīkānīt means ‘the one in front’ or ‘the leader’ in Cree
What key moments defined you as a leader?
My overall life experience has been rooted in having been born in the north, lived in four provinces and the Northwest Territories, above the Arctic Circle, and spent a few of my early years in Scotland. I am the granddaughter of an Indian Residential School survivor, and daughter of an Indian Day School survivor, and have experienced two Indian Day Schools myself. I also spent nearly three months, seriously ill, far away from home as a 10-year-old—an experience that taught me to believe in myself, that I am a survivor, and very resilient. My grandfather was a trapper, hunter, and fisherman – he and my grandmother very capably raised 12 children in that tradition, including my mother, who was born in a tent on the trapline in the early spring. I come from strong and resilient people on both my Cree and my Scottish sides. These are my roots and my connections.
While I am so grateful to have had many interesting and varied experiences throughout my long career in leadership positions within the media, public, and private sectors, none have been quite as rewarding as the last few years, particularly since May 2020, when I was offered the role I have now—it’s truly my dream job.
In 2017, after having been with Deloitte for a year or so in a leadership marketing role, I saw an opportunity and followed my heart, helping the firm see how our organization could and should focus on reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada. I shared my ideas with senior leadership, raised awareness about the history of colonization and oppression of Indigenous peoples in this country, and then led the firm’s initial steps on the path of reconciliation, advocating for the establishment of what would become six Downie Wenjack Legacy Spaces within the firm across Canada-spaces that honor residential school survivors and those who didn’t make it home, as well as being safe spaces for dialogue and healing.
What I was working on from the side of my desk, led to a full-time role three years later doing what I love: advocating for, and helping advance, reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and Canadians.
I was part of a small committee, formed in early 2019 at Deloitte, that developed the firm’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), published in June 2020. It was the first of its kind in corporate Canada in direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action. The RAP, led by my phenomenal colleague, Alexandra Biron, has been key to not only driving significant and positive change at our own firm but also has been a model for other organizations to emulate.
I also work alongside, and support, other Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders at the firm, who are doing important and meaningful work with Indigenous businesses and communities. As an example, some of our most impactful client initiatives are led by Jolain Foster. Jolain is a partner at the firm, who is focused on nation-building, working alongside those Indigenous communities and nations that wish to generate economic prosperity and sovereignty and, ultimately, self-determination. I’m so proud to call her a colleague and I celebrate and acknowledge other talented Indigenous leaders at Deloitte such as Jason Rasevych, Dean Janvier, Anne-Marie Ethier, and many others, who simply excel at what they do, and are blazing the trail for others to follow. Being part of this community of leaders, and others throughout the organization inspires me every single day.
I think what I have learned from my own experience regarding my most recent career move was that it’s important to recognize one’s own voice and to find the courage to use it. At some point in our lives, we are each called to use our voice – and it’s our absolute responsibility to do so. Future generations depend on us to share our truths and do our part now, so that they may benefit and then they can pass it on—just as our ancestors have shared their knowledge so that we may learn and pass it on.
What community-driven projects have you spearheaded/participated in that you
are proud of? What did you take away from these experiences?
I’m so full of gratitude for all the opportunities I’ve been given to serve throughout my career—in non-Indigenous and Indigenous spaces and in paid and volunteer capacities. Over the last three years or so, I’ve been chairing the North American Indigenous Games 2023 that will be held in Kjipuktuk/Halifax and Millbrook First Nation in July. Due to the pandemic, we had to postpone the 2020 games until 2023; but now we are getting ready for what will be the largest multi-sport and cultural gathering in the history of Atlantic Canada, since European contact. I am so proud of leading a team of extremely dedicated volunteers and staff who will be welcoming nearly 5,300 participants representing 756 nations from all across Turtle Island (North America).
So far, my takeaway is that in creating uplifting, positive spaces where we can celebrate Indigenous youth through sharing sport and culture, I know with my whole heart that we are helping build tomorrow’s Indigenous leaders. For me, these games are about contributing to their well-being and, by extension, to the well-being of their communities, for we are nurturing this next generation. Through the power of sport and sharing our beautiful Indigenous cultures, we are building bridges between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, offering opportunities for us all to join in celebration.
How do you connect with your ancestral roots professionally and personally?
Fortunately, I am reminded every single day about my ancestral roots because it’s literally part of my job to be who I am and bring that into my day-to-day. I start most days with a traditional sage or sweetgrass smudge in my home office. It grounds me and reminds me to keep my heart and mind open, to be grateful, to listen, and to serve to the best of my ability. Taking time to sit in ceremony, with myself or others, reminds me of our traditional teachings and to honor who I am.
I also speak my nehithawewin (Woodland Cree language, in the ‘th” dialect) to some degree each day at work. I introduce myself at meetings in my language first. I didn’t always do this in my life because I didn’t grow up surrounded by the language—I didn’t really start to unlock the language inside me until later in life. I spoke a few words as a child, but due to the impacts of colonization, and not growing up in my home community, I never became fluent. But I now speak it as often as I can because the only way to learn any language is to open your mouth and let the words come out. I used to hold myself back because I was shy and worried I wouldn’t sound right; but I’ve pushed past that and am not afraid anymore. I’m proud when I speak now, even though I’m not yet fluent.
I have photos of my grandparents next to me while I work. Having them near me keeps me true to who I am. Another thing I do is, normalize wearing ribbon skirts to work (whether at my home office or when I work at Deloitte’s office in downtown Halifax). I do this often, as a visible reminder to others that Indigenous people are here, that we have always been here, that we are strong, and that we will always be here. Plus, ribbon skirts are super-comfortable!
As a leader, what motivates you to move forward in adversity? Where do you find your passion?
It’s simple. What motivates me is the knowledge that no matter what obstacles may come, the vision of a better country, of a better world where all have an equal opportunity to thrive, is greater than any barriers. My passion runs deep and, honestly, I was probably born an optimist. It comes from a place of wanting future generations to have a better experience than past generations (including my own). It comes from the knowledge that while we can’t undo the past, we can go toward healing, be optimistic and work hard to build a better tomorrow.
What do you see yourself doing in the future?
I’m currently 60 years old, but I honestly feel as though I’m just getting started. I mean, as funny as it may sound, I finally figured out in my late 50s what I want to be when I grow up!
How could GlobalMindED further support the efforts that you are a part of?
