Highlights The Ministry of Education and Child Care (ECC), Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills (PSFS), First Nations Education Steering Committee (FNESC) and Indigenous Adult and Higher Learning Association (IAHLA) have formed a working group that is co-developing initiatives to support the training, recruitment and retention of First Nations teachers. This includes engaging…

Highlights Indigenous Food Security and Food Sovereignty Program delivered by New Relationship Trust In July 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food announced a $30 million program to be delivered by the New Relationship Trust (NRT) to support Indigenous Peoples to develop food sovereignty, food security and Indigenous-led agriculture initiatives. The first intake of the…

Highlights The innovator skills initiative, run by Innovate BC, has reached new milestones and established new partnerships. Over this last fiscal year, Indigenous participation in the innovator skills initiative has surpassed the participation rate for the 2021-2022 reporting period by 3%. The formal partnership between Innovate BC and the First Nation Technology Council (FNTC) is…

Highlights Capacity Building:  In June 2023, Indigenous Clean Energy Opportunities (ICEO) held a two-day virtual workshop on hydrogen market opportunities, knowledge building presentations on the electricity sector and an interactive overview of BC Hydro’s UNDRIP implementation plan. Participation for the June workshop included representation from 50 First Nations. Presentations were delivered by subject experts and…

Highlights The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport (TACS), in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR), provided $6 million to Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC) in March 2023, to develop and implement Indigenous-led and culturally focused training and educational opportunities for Indigenous tourism workers and employers. The $6 million Indigenous…

Highlights The Heritage Conservation Act transformation project (HCATP) has co-developed materials and resources through the joint working group on first nations heritage conservation, with input from the Alliance of B.C. Modern Treaty Nations. The first two phases of engagement with First Nations and stakeholders on the HCATP has successfully concluded. Analysis of feedback has led…

Highlights Initiatives delivered by the First Peoples’ Cultural Council In 2023/24, the First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) provided grants, training, technologies and resources to assist First Nations with work to revitalize their languages, arts and heritage.  Highlights included: In February 2023, FPCC released the fourth edition of the Report on the Status of BC First…

Highlights On September 11, 2023, Métis Nation BC (MNBC) signed a letter of understanding with the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). The letter recognizes the common goals between the two organizations of providing equitable access to health services for Métis people, and improving health and wellness outcomes for Métis people within PHSA’s health services in…