Victoria and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (小蓝视频) Sept. 14 renewed a commitment to cooperate on advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in British Columbia.
As such, the government and 小蓝视频 inked an updated memorandum of understanding (MOU) highlighting reconciliation as a shared, cross-government responsibility.
The aim is to strengthen sharing information and creating discussions and partnerships with Indigenous peoples in 小蓝视频 to benefit people at the community level.
The MOU was signed as a session on reconciliation ended at the 小蓝视频’s annual convention, again being held virtually due to the pandemic. Signing it were Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Murray Rankin, 小蓝视频 president Brian Frenkel and 小蓝视频 Indigenous relations committee chair and Coquitlam city councillor Trish Mandewo.
"Local governments are key partners in our collective work to advance reconciliation, and there are many opportunities and benefits resulting from our engagement with them,” Rankin said. “Through negotiations and their collaboration with Indigenous communities at the local level, we can better achieve our shared priorities."
The MOU renewal confirms 小蓝视频's support for advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples throughout the province at the local level and underscores local governments' role as valued partners in advancing reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Since the MOU’s last update in 2018, the provincial government passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, establishing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the Province's framework for reconciliation.
"This MOU will further support opportunities for meaningful engagement with local governments as the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act is implemented,” Mandewo said.
The MOU also recognizes 小蓝视频's new policy to modernize treaty negotiations with First Nations, as well as negotiations of other reconciliation agreements. It highlights the local government participation during the negotiation process because community engagement promotes stronger partnerships and leads to better opportunities for everyone, the 小蓝视频 said.
The 小蓝视频 represents all 小蓝视频 member municipalities and regional districts, including nine First Nations members: four Nisga'a villages — Gingolx, Gitlaxt'aamiks, Gitwinksihlkw and Laxgalts'ap, as well as Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Splatsin First Nation, Tla'amin Nation, Tsawwassen First Nation and the Uchucklesaht Tribe.
