How are we working together?
Leadership for this work rightfully belongs to First Nations, while the Province has a role in supporting solutions and minimizing harm while investing in First Nation-led governance rebuilding and boundary resolution. The Province provided capacity funding for 2025/26 to the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) to advance implementation. The first phase of work focuses on generating materials to shape and stimulate dialogue on options for the contemplated institution, and a comprehensive project plan for engaging relevant decision-makers and subject matter experts in the next phase of work. Tools to support advancement of this action item include case studies, a community of practice, training, readiness assessments, template agreements and community engagement resources.
Are there challenges?
To fully advance Action 1.01 close collaboration between Canada, First Nations and the Province is essential. This is complex work that will take time. Competing priorities, capacity and resourcing constraints amongst the Province, First Nations and First Nations Organizations present a challenge to implementing this action in a timely manner. Nationhood rebuilding and boundary resolution remain shared priorities of First Nations, First Nations Organizations and the Province. Resourcing provided to date has resulted in incremental steps taken in the 2025/26 fiscal year to advance these priorities. The Province has heard from Modern Treaty Nations that they are also interested in being engaged in this work. Future resourcing will support First Nations’ consensus-building on the resources required to fully realize this action item and testing and adapting the tools and training developed thus far.
Highlights
First Nations and First Nations Organizations have been working together to advance solutions to the challenges presented by territorial overlaps for many years. Over the previous reporting year, FNLC has developed a set of tools to support Nations in their boundary resolution work.
Previous years’ progress
Highlights
A key aspect of Action 1.01 is that leadership and direction for Nation-rebuilding and boundary resolution issues come from First Nations, with the Province offering its support and partnership.
There is a renewed commitment and desire to move forward on work that began back in 2019 between FNLC and the Province. This renewed commitment is reflected in the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation’s 2025 mandate letter. In the last several months of the reporting year, FNLC and the Province reengaged in conversations related to this action and a plan was developed for the coming year to help guide the direction for moving forward with this important work.
How are we working together?
Nation-rebuilding and boundary resolution issues have been ongoing for many years. Leadership for this work rightfully belongs to First Nations, not to the Province. The Province is supporting the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) to engage with First Nations and subject matter experts to develop tools, mechanisms and supports for Nation rebuilding, governance development and shared territory resolution. These actions were committed to in the Declaration Act Action Plan, as well as the Joint Agenda: Implementing the Commitment Document [507KB PDF] agreed to by the Province and FNLC in 2018.
Are there challenges?
This complicated and necessary work will take time. To fully advance Action 1.01 close collaboration between Canada, First Nations and the Province is essential.
The lack of clarity on boundary and overlap issues has deep impacts for First Nations, and for B.C. as it relates to revenue sharing, treaty negotiations, and finalizing agreements and other constructive arrangements.