The following is an excerpt from a News Release published by BC Government News, Office of the Premier:

First Nations leaders and provincial officials from across B.C. came together on November 2nd for the eighth B.C. Cabinet and First Nations Leaders’ Gathering to recognize, respect, and advance government-to-government relationships. Regional Chief Terry Teegee, and Murray Rankin Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, opened the two-day event held at the Vancouver Convention Centre West. More than 1,000 people registered to attend, a record number representing 193 First Nations and organizations, with more than 900 one-on-one scheduled meetings.

One of the largest meetings of First Nations and provincial leaders in the country, the gathering enables First Nations leaders and provincial government officials to discuss important community issues through one-on-one meetings. Leaders participate in plenary and discussion sessions on topics such as, implementing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, new decision-making models, implementing a distinctions-based approach, and addressing anti-Indigenous racism.

The gathering was co-hosted and organized by the BC provincial government and the First Nations Leadership Council, which is comprised of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit, and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

Quotes from Leaders:

  • Premier David Eby – “We know that working in consultation and co-operation with First Nations is the best way to move forward and tackle the challenges we face.”
  • Regional Chief Terry Teegee, BC Assembly of First Nations – “It is essential to find pathways that strike a balance between competing interests while prioritizing First Nations’ self-determination and environmental stewardship.”
  • Robert Phillips, Political Executive, First Nations Summit – “The Declaration Act is still in its infancy. It needs our collective resolve to ensure it has meaning and a legacy, and that it facilitates a complete reset of how the provincial Crown relates with First Nations in B.C.”
  • Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs – “Coming out of the record-setting and horrendous wildfire season, this critical gathering is set against the backdrop of the climate crisis. Now, more than ever, we must work together to uphold First Nations’ jurisdiction over our land, water, and air, and work toward redress as articulated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
  • Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations – “As we approach the fourth anniversary of the Declaration Act, we are working with Indigenous Peoples across the province to deliver tangible changes on the ground, in ways that reflect the unique priorities of each community.”

Learn More:

  • To explore the redesigned Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, click HERE
  • To learn about the BC Assembly of First Nations, click HERE
  • To read about Union of BC Indian Chiefs, click HERE

By: Office of the Premier, News Release
Photo: CBC News