Background
The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) establishes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples [PDF, 151KB] (UN Declaration) as the Province’s framework for reconciliation, as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
The Declaration Act requires government to bring provincial laws into alignment with the UN Declaration and to develop and implement an action plan to achieve the objectives of the UN Declaration in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples.
The Province’s current Declaration Act Action Plan (2022-2027) [PDF, 3.8MB] was released in March 2022. The action plan includes 89 cross-government actions in four themes:
- Self-Determination Inherent Right of and Self-Government
- Title and Rights of Indigenous Peoples
- Ending Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination
- Social, Cultural and Economic Well-being
This current engagement is carrying out the Declaration Act commitment to review the action plan in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples, as well as engaging with key audiences who are familiar with the action plan and its implementation.
The Declaration Act Action Plan commits to a comprehensive update within five years. Broader engagement to help inform an updated action plan is expected to begin in early 2027.
Development of the Declaration Act Action Plan
Beginning in 2020, a two-year engagement process informed the development of the action plan and all its components. Existing feedback was analyzed and used to develop an initial draft of the action plan that was publicly released.
Feedback was sought directly from rights and title holders, the Alliance of BC Modern Treaty Nations, First Nations Leadership Council, Métis Nation BC, First Nations organizations and Indigenous service organizations. The Province also engaged local governments, businesses, industry associations, and not-for-profits through ministry-led meetings, feedback forms, and written submissions.
On March 30, 2022, the first Declaration Act Action Plan was released. It includes collectively identified goals and outcomes that provide the long-term strategic vision for achieving the objectives of the UN Declaration. The five-year, cross-government plan includes four themes, each with a goal, specific outcomes and actions, for a total of 89 actions to be initiated between 2022 and 2027.