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OUR Plan

Strong and Appropriate Governance...

“Strong and appropriate governance is necessary if our Nations are to reach our full potential and maximize our opportunities.  This is a prerequisite to sustainable and long-term economic development.”

Objective/Goal Strategy Action
Understand and identify the specific priorities for each of our Nations

(note: this applies to each of the four key areas) 		Meet with communities

Develop tools for identifying First Nations’ goals and priorities
  • Formalize an engagement tool that is effective in reaching each area/community in BC.
  • Prepare communiqué to First Nations inviting their participation in identifying First Nations goals and priorities
  • AGAs, forums on each of the four key areas, Regional Sessions, Community visits
  • Questionnaires/surveys
  • Seek out resources to develop a meaningful engagement tool/process
  • Website development/Information sharing on-line, emails etc.
  • Identify human resource requirements for gathering information
Strengthened First Nations’ Governance Each First Nation  to develop its own critical path to strengthened governance including its “exit” strategy from the Indian Act

Adoption by Canada of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People
  • Completion of Governance Engagement and Self-Assessment Tool (BCAFN to develop)
  • Roll out of Tool: peer Review, pilot communities, distribution of Tool
  • Roundtable on Governance – facilitated dialogue and information sharing among interested First Nations on governance options and successes – meet regularly throughout year
  • Facilitated  community/regional/Provincial sessions
  • Meet with Provincial & Federal Governments as well as Industry to seek out resources to support implementation by First Nations’ communities
  • Think Tank on Governance – Leaders/Experts/Academics (with partners)
  • Coordinate/incorporate strategies of Canada/BC where appropriate – work with governments to solidify new thinking around empowerment of FNs in terms of building governance from ground up/not top down or dictated governance (with partners).
Maximizing Limited Financial and Human Resources Development of Partnerships/Understand who is doing what? Do not re-invent the wheel.

Sharing FN Experiences

Best practices
  • Meet and coordinate efforts with other PTOs, New Relationship Trust, NCFNG, BC & Canada...
  • Hosting of Regional Conference on Governance (with partners)
  • Website enhancement – interactive/information source
  • Create database for Information Sharing and networking/collaboration among Nations
Increase First Nation opportunities for participation in national initiatives that support post Indian Act government (sectoral and/or comprehensive)

Each Nation developing and maintaining strong and open relationships with Ottawa and Victoria to ensure that they can advance their own issues directly with the Crown. 		Link up with national AFN initiatives - coordinate regional efforts with national efforts

Develop strategy around national AFN portfolio of First Nations’ Government – possible to develop and advance innovative approaches to governance with Canada and the Provinces: e.g., citizenship and Nation building, justice & dispute resolution and urban strategy

Develop approach to federal legislative and policy initiatives to press for recognition and reconciliation of our inherent jurisdiction (e.g. Matrimonial Real Property, Bill C-3/Citizenship, water and waste water

Ensure what is being offered in one community/region in Canada is available to every other community/region

MOUs with other Regions/Communities (e.g.. Quebec Region, Yukon...)

Ensure each of our Nations has the opportunity to participate and that all BCAFN activity is mandated by our communities
  • Lobby Canada (legislative agenda, adequate resources)
  • Regional Chief/BC Chiefs to continue to chair and participate in national strategy forums which focus on First Nations’ Governance (developing collective political, legal, international, economic and strategic action plans)
  • BCAFN/AFN – role to coordinate, facilitate, advocate and support individual Nations’ own ‘critical paths’. 
  • Seek additional resources as needed from national AFN, Canada & BC as well as Business & industry to support our Nations’ governance work. In particular to ensure access to legislative initiatives (e.g. First Nations Land Management Act)
  • Assist Nations when advancing their own issues directly with the Crown.
Comprehensive  Self-government Arrangements Streamline process for comprehensive government negotiations with the Crown.

Regional and National framework to facilitate transition from Indian Act to self-government through community/Nation Constitution building.

Ensure Canada negotiates  consistently and fairly across the country
  • To develop with partners appropriate framework for comprehensive governance negotiations (nation-to-nation)
  • Lobby Canada to implement framework  (may require legislation)
  • Work with other Regions and the national AFN to coordinate efforts
  • Work with communities, other PTOs, and other organisations.
  • Ensure adequate resources
Community Engagement/Capacity Building To determine what has worked well in the past for First Nations and what did not work so well and why?
  • Support and document ‘best practices’ and work together to build each First Nations’ capacity
  • Produce ‘plain English’ education materials and resources for distribution in communities
  • Support Community working groups and regional forums (self-aggregated)
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