Opinion: B.C. needs to fix a system still failing First Nations and industry – Business in Vancouver
Sep 6, 2024
B.C. must ensure Indigenous Peoples are part of decision-making without isolating key industry and stakeholder voices
History was made in 2019 when B.C. became the first jurisdiction in North America to embrace the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in the form of new legislation, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).
This bold step towards reconciliation was adopted by the legislature when all 87 MLAs voted in favour of this precedent-setting legislation. According to the B.C. government, the new law was meant “to create a path forward that respects the human rights of Indigenous Peoples while introducing better transparency and predictability in the work we do together.” This new path was created to stop the violation of human rights and abuse experienced by First Nations in B.C. and to include us. We deserve a seat at the table to have a role in policy making, legislation, land-use decisions and many other decisions that impacted our communities alongside what was often a very exclusive club of elected officials, bureaucrats and key stakeholders.
This landmark change was celebrated by the public, media and Indigenous and non-Indigenous people around the world. A new day was upon us in British Columbia—one filled with hope, optimism and possibility. We were moving away from performative actions and slogans to meaningful and legislative change in the province to enable true reconciliation.
