Co-developed by kinSHIFT and Purppl, this program brings together non-Indigenous and Indigenous impact leaders to practice building respectful relationships.
Hilary Henegar, Service Lead & Entrepreneur In Residence, Impact Strategy & Storytelling, Purppl
When BEEM Credit Union (formed by the merger of Interior Savings and Gulf & Fraser) launched under their new name, they also committed to leading differently.
With 193,000 members across 66 branches and $17B in assets, BEEM recognized the responsibility that comes with being a financial steward in communities that include Indigenous peoples.
To support this commitment, three team members, including CEO Brian Harris, participated in Journey Together, a leadership coaching-for-reconciliation program co-developed by kinSHIFT and Purppl, and grounded in sylix-Okanagan principles.
Guided by coaches Kelly Terbasket (Syilx and European ancestry) and Charmaine Lyn (Chinese ancestry, Canadian settler by way of immigration from Jamaica), the team explored how colonial patterns show up in their financial institution – including through everyday interactions. Looking at these patterns required a lot of humility and a commitment to continuous learning. Leadership development became a practice of vulnerability and courage, as participants let go of perfectionism and embraced discomfort.
With a focus on moving from transactions to relationships, the team explored what it means to commit to centring Indigenous voices across decision-making. They navigated the tension between visible acts of reconciliation and the less visible, but essential, cultural shifts needed to sustain meaningful change. And they began to look at how to align internal systems, like hiring, training, and leadership development, with their values of respect, safety, and inclusion, recognizing that these must shape not just policy, but organizational culture.
Syilx teachings from Coyote, Fox, and Eagle offered guidance along the way, reminding the team that reconciliation is not a task to complete, but a transformative journey to walk – together.
The experience helped BEEM reimagine leadership not as certainty, but as a practice of pause, reflection, and responsiveness.
Brian Harris, CEO, BEEM Credit Union
“I’ve learned that authentic leadership in this space means being willing to sit with discomfort. The more I’ve practiced vulnerability, the more I’ve seen how it creates space for others to explore, make mistakes, and learn. My role now is to foster an environment where that kind of growth is not just accepted but expected.”
– Brian Harris, CEO, BEEM Credit Union
Kelly Terbasket, Journey Together coach & co-creator, kinSHIFT founder
“Reconciliation isn’t a checkbox. It’s how you hire, how you hold meetings, how you deal with conflict. It’s how your values show up when it’s hard.”
– Kelly Terbasket, Journey Together coach & co-creator, kinSHIFT founder
Charmaine Lyn, Journey Together coach
“Yes, you can do things that are visible, like an Orange Shirt Day campaign – that matters. And you also need to create space for the deeper work to happen. That’s how we build accountability and shift culture.”
– Charmaine Lyn, Journey Together coach
Learn more about this one-of-a-kind leadership development for reconciliation coaching program, along with other learning opportunities for building respectful relations with Indigenous peoples and lands:
Explore: Journey Together →
Curious for more stories of impact?
If this story resonated with you, you’ll find more like it in Purppl’s 2024 Impact Report.
The report reflects a year of transformation where we partnered with 61 organizations through 71 projects, reached $1M in revenue, and supported leaders stepping into new levels of courage and clarity. Each story in the report offers a glimpse into what’s possible when impact-driven people work together to build a more just and regenerative future.
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