Designing the RRII logo

We wanted our logo to portray the core values behind the Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative. We worked with Design de Plume, an Indigenous owned design studio, who crafted a visual representation of our values, goals and partnerships.

The flower: community, connection and collaboration

The circular design of our logo strongly expresses RRII’s relationships and connections. The intricate and overlapping flower design, at the center of the drum, expresses the initiative’s objectives of partnerships, being community centred, and building supportive networks for Indigenous trustees. The illustrated flower is a reference to various different Indigenous art styles, such as carvings, flower bead work on clothing and ceremonial garb, and paintings, in an attempt to capture the wide ranging Indigenous peoples and nations with which we work.

The drum: healing and power

The stylized drum we chose represents drums used by many different Indigenous communities across Canada. The drum’s beat is a symbol of Mother Earth’s heartbeat. It is also a tool used for communication and ceremonies, and is a strong symbol of power. Some Indigenous peoples believe the drum’s beat has the power to heal sickness, and send messages to the spirit world.

Reconciliation in the investment and financial world is part of a process of healing past and ongoing harms. Responsible investment, direct investment in Indigenous owned businesses and promoting Indigenous advancement are vehicles through which we can take constructive action to address the ongoing legacies of colonialism and the destructive impacts on Indigenous peoples’ education, economic opportunities and prosperity.

Like the drum’s beat, we want the redirected flows of capital to be sending strong, rippling signals of power and healing out to the world.