An 8-week structured engagement that moves your organization from intention to a board-ready Reconciliation Action Plan.
Most organizations know they need to act on reconciliation. Fewer know where to start. The RAP Sprint is a facilitated 8-week engagement that takes an organization from wherever it currently stands to a specific, measurable, board-ready Reconciliation Action Plan.It is not a workshop. It is not a policy review. It combines honest assessment, cultural context, and concrete planning into a single process, led by an Indigenous practitioner with experience guiding organizations through this work across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors.The engagement is structured around four phases, each lasting two weeks, with clear milestones and decision points built in. Organizations do not move forward until they are ready.
- Indigenous-led by Houston Barnaby of Listuguj First Nation
- Territory-specific — customized to local Nations and Treaty territory
- Structured around four phases with clear decision gates
- Anti-performative — every commitment tested against real impact
Balsam assesses where your organization stands today — stakeholder interviews, a readiness scorecard, and an honest baseline. No assumptions. No shortcuts.
Based on what Discover reveals, Balsam works with your team to select the reconciliation pillars most relevant to your context and set priorities.
Your RAP is drafted with specific, measurable, time-bound commitments. Every proposed action is tested: does this benefit Indigenous communities, or just the organization's reputation?
The final RAP is presented to leadership alongside an implementation roadmap and check-in framework. Your organization leaves with a plan ready for the boardroom.
At the end of the 8-week engagement, your organization receives four concrete deliverables.
A structured assessment of where your organization stands across reconciliation pillars, establishing a clear baseline and identifying priority areas.
A board-ready document with specific, measurable, time-bound commitments organized by reconciliation pillar. Customized to your organization, sector, and territory.
A phased timeline with priorities, dependencies, resource requirements, and accountability milestones. Designed for the team responsible for executing the plan.
A semi-annual check-in structure for tracking progress, revisiting commitments, and maintaining momentum after the sprint ends.
The RAP Sprint is designed for organizations ready to move beyond awareness and into action. It works across sectors.
Organizations with Indigenous engagement obligations, ESG commitments, or leadership teams seeking a structured reconciliation approach. Common in resources, energy, financial services, and professional services.
Federal, provincial, or municipal bodies working on TRC Call to Action responses, Indigenous engagement policy, or service delivery to Indigenous communities.
Industry associations, foundations, and institutions integrating Indigenous perspectives into programming, governance, or community partnerships.
Balsam is founded and led by Houston Barnaby of Listuguj First Nation. This is not advisory from the outside looking in. It is grounded in lived experience and community accountability.
Generic Indigenous awareness is not enough. Every RAP Sprint is customized to the Treaty territory and local Nations relevant to your organization's operations.
Every commitment is tested against a clear standard: does this benefit Indigenous communities, or just the organization's image? Vague pledges are flagged and reworked.
The methodology prioritizes relationship-building with local Nations before any organizational commitments are drafted. The plan holds up because it's built on real relationships.
Eight weeks, four phases, defined deliverables. Decision gates between phases prevent rushing to commitments before the groundwork is done.
Cultural awareness training through Balsam's Professional Indigenous Ally Training program can be integrated into the RAP Sprint process to build shared understanding across your team before commitments are drafted. Ask about it when you connect with us.