Ranch Ehrlo introduces Indigenous Engagement Guide
Ranch Ehrlo has taken the next step in its reconciliation journey with the launch of a new Indigenous Engagement Guide—a meaningful resource designed to strengthen cultural understanding, deepen relationships, and embed Indigenous ways of knowing into the fabric of the agency.
The Indigenous Engagement Guide calls for the dedicated and deliberate efforts of all staff to engage in deeper cultural collaboration and connection leading to heightened cultural competency and engagement.
This guide is more than a document, it is a call to action. Efforts reflected by the Indigenous Engagement Guide will develop cultural competency in four areas, or quadrants: participants, staff, relationships, and communities.
“The efforts to advance our cultural connections, competency, and collaboration must happen at all levels of the agency, from senior leadership to direct care workers,” said Jamie Lerat, Indigenous advisor. “The efforts to weave and reflect Indigenous culture into the culture of Ranch Ehrlo, as an organization, must come from genuine interest and the desire to want to be better and do better for our participants and the communities that we serve.”
The Indigenous Engagement Guide aligns with Ranch Ehrlo’s five-year strategic plan and reinforces the agency’s ongoing commitment to working with Indigenous peoples and communities. In 2023, 77 per cent of Ranch Ehrlo’s group living participants identified as being of Indigenous descent—highlighting the importance of having staff and programs that are actively engaged with, and educated in, Indigenous cultures.
“This cultural understanding is essential to creating a more supportive, inclusive, and therapeutic environment for all participants,” said Jamie. “While staff have demonstrated a strong commitment to reconciliation over the years, through the incredible work they do, this guide will provide a tool to measure and evaluate progress in key areas to ensure the understanding and embracement of culture continues to deepen.”
Stay tuned for a series of stories and social media highlights showcasing how work in each of these four quadrants is driving meaningful progress in our programs and positively impacting the lives of our participants.