Whereas the United Nations UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes rights to self-determination, language, culture, and health as well as rights connected to equity, justice and access and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission TRC calls to action recognize the needs of the 70 per cent of Indigenous people in British Columbia that live off reserve in urban centres, largely to pursue work, education, access to amenities, to be closer to loved ones, and to create a good life for themselves and their children; And whereas urban Indigenous peoples are over represented across health and social inequities, yet current provincial government programs have failed to acknowledge urban Indigenous peoples in significant policies, programs and funding opportunities linked to social health determinants including poverty reduction, housing, training and education, heritage and culture, child care and health: Therefore be it resolved that the Province recognize and treat Indigenous people equitably in provincial policies and regulation, programs and funding initiatives, and consultations that are tied to root causes of inequities and improved social determinants of health including housing, access and connection to culture, education and training, child and family services and income generation.
Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation MIRR recognizes and acknowledges that reconciliation extends to all Indigenous people living in British Columbia. Based on the 2016 census, approximately 78 percent of Indigenous people live off reserve. This includes status First Nation, non-status First Nation, Inuit and nearly 90,000 self-identifying as Mtis people. In 2011, B.C. established the Off-Reserve Aboriginal Action Plan ORAAP to work with urban Indigenous people and all three levels of government Federal, Provincial and municipal to improve socio-economic outcomes for off-reserve Indigenous people in B.C. This commitment has been reaffirmed in the mandates of all provincial ministries with a commitment to uphold and adopt the values and principles outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Transformative reconciliation initiatives must include urban Indigenous peoples in significant policies, programs and funding opportunities linked to social determinants of health including poverty reduction, housing, training and education, heritage and culture, child care and health. MIRR is currently working with the Union of BC Municipalities to explore and advance opportunities for Reconciliation Dialogues between urban Indigenous and Metis people and local governments.