The BC Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) is hosting an in-person climate leadership session this summer in Campbell River, as the end of an eight-session tour across the province.
The sessions are geared towards First Nations leadership, youth, technical staff, knowledge keepers and community members. The goal is to hold discussions and identify ways to transform governmental climate change frameworks, policies and mechanisms.
As part of the UN Declaration Act, the federal government committed to co-developing an Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda that will give authority and resources for climate action to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and organizations. That led to the Joint Committee on Climate Action, which laid the foundation for this work. The provincial document, which will come in part from information gathered during these sessions, will inform the Canada-wide agenda and be presented to Cabinet to be implemented.
“First Nations in B.C. are true climate leaders in adapting and responding to the climate emergency and must have a leadership role in any climate discussion, based on First Nations’ inherent and constitutionally protected Title, Rights and Treaty Rights,” says a release from BCAFN. “However, too often, governments’ climate decisions, plans, strategies and investments are developed and implemented without the meaningful participation of First Nations. It is time to fundamentally shift decision-making within the federal system and rethink how climate funding is allocated by Canada.”
Through this process, BCAFN hopes to address barriers to federal climate funding, to enhance collaborative decision making, promote long-term First Nations climate leadership in the province, and to preserve and integrate First Nations Knowledge, laws and languages into climate resilience.
The process began in 2022, with the endorsement of the B.C. First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan. Since then, the steering committee of the project has met with Spiritual Knowledge Keepers, and has begun moving forward with the project. Though it is early in the process, they have already heard about systemic inequities and discrimination that have led to a history of distrust. A report from BCAFN stresses the need to restore balance to the natural world and to bring about self-determination for Indigenous Peoples.
The Campbell River event will be held at the Quinsam Wellness Centre on July 3. The session starts at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. Registration and breakfast will be available starting at 8 a.m. The session will have centre around the Wakashan language group, which includes X̄a’islak̓ala, Liq’wala, Haíłzaqvḷa, Nuučaan̓uł and more.
Other events across the province are:
Prince George, Uda Dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors), April 30, 2024
Fort St. John, Pomeroy Casino & Resort, May 2, 2024
Kamloops, T’kemlups Te Secwepemc, May 9, 2024
Cranbrook, St. Eugene Mission, May 15, 2024
Haida Gwaii, Haida House on Tllaal, June 3, 2024
Terrace, Kitselas First Nations Hall, June 5, 2024
Chilliwack, Skwah First Nation Community Hall, June 27, 2024
All events will be at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. Registration and breakfast will be available starting at 8 a.m.
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