The Need To Marry Economic Reconciliation With Social Reconciliation
The Province of British Columbia made history by passing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act unanimously in the B.C. legislature in 2019.
This legislation establishes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation in B.C. It ensures the human rights of Indigenous peoples are respected and helps create clarity and predictability for all people in British Columbia on the path ahead.
Under the Declaration Act, the provincial government must develop an action plan in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples to meet the objectives of the UN Declaration.
The First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB) recognizes these efforts by the BC government, and for moving forward as a national example for other governments in holding this consultation process and to ensure the inclusion of and consultation with Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. The FMB is pleased to provide its feedback on the Government of British Columbia’s Draft Action Plan for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
In these submissions we focus on how B.C. can improve its draft Action Plan to better marry the social and economic aspects of the Declaration to truly enable First Nations to exercise their rights to self-determination.
Harold Calla
Executive Chair
First Nations Financial Management Board