The Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group and the Province would like to express their loving memory of Leona Humchitt, a proud member of the Heiltsuk First Nation, one of the first regional climate coordinators, and former B.C. Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group member who passed away in March 2025.
How are we working together?
The First Nations Leadership Council – BC Technical Working Group on Climate Change (the FNLC Technical Working Group), established in 2019 by the Climate Action Secretariat and the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), meets monthly to advance collaborative implementation of CleanBC and B.C.’s Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy (the Climate Strategy).
In 2024 and 2025, the Climate Action Secretariat and the FNLC Technical Working Group have been supporting a climate capacity/needs assessment for First Nations and exploring First Nations climate action funding to determine their needs regarding capacity to act on climate change.
The Climate Action Secretariat has provided data on Indigenous climate engagements across government for this project; they also continue to support implementation of the BC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan.
The Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group (the Climate Working Group), established in 2021, is comprised of Indigenous members from across B.C. to advise the Province on the Climate Strategy implementation. They continue to meet monthly and are involved in the steering committee for Indigenous Climate Resilience Capacity Building Pilot Project (also called the Resilience Climate Adaptation Network).
The Province funded the pilot with $2 million in 2022-23 and an additional $250,000 in 2023/24 to support self-determination and increased capacity for climate initiatives in First Nations communities. Some regional climate action coordinators have now been hired, and the pilot has been extended through 2025/26.
In 2024, the Climate Action Secretariat began trilateral meetings with Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Natural Resources Canada, with both the Technical Working Group and the Climate Working Group to ensure alignment and coordination on climate action and adaptation between levels of government and First Nations.
Are there challenges?
As funding for the Climate Strategy is time bound, from 2022-2025, further coordination with partners will be necessary to continue implementation work. The Climate Action Secretariat is supporting the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness with Indigenous engagement on the Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment and associated plan and continues to work with both the Indigenous Climate Action Working Group and the FNLC Technical Working Group regularly.
Future collaboration and engagement processes on CleanBC and the Climate Strategy will need to consider current economic uncertainty and a constrained fiscal environment.
Highlights
The Climate Action Secretariat continues to foster a relationship between the Province and two Indigenous advisory groups. These are built on co-developed indicators for success on Action 2.12, which included appropriate mechanisms or governance structures in place to support collaborative implementation of CleanBC and the Climate Strategy. The expected outcome of this indicator is a formal structure for Indigenous advisory/working groups to engage in dialogue, provide strategic advice and ensure Indigenous perspectives, knowledge and experience of First Nations rights and title holders are included in development and implementation of climate initiatives.
The annual Indigenous Climate Resilience Forum is seen as an example of the success of this relationship and co-development of a project focused on Indigenous self-determination and capacity to build climate resilience. The event brings together Indigenous organizations and First Nations for networking opportunities and learning exchange. In February 2025, the Climate Action Secretariat, the B.C. Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group and contractor Mahihkan Management Inc. organized and hosted the fourth annual forum, which saw its highest registration numbers ever at 612 people from 91 First Nations and 33 Indigenous organizations. There was a total of 300 attendees from 74 First Nations, 25 Indigenous organizations, three Indigenous Nations from outside B.C., and attendees from international jurisdictions (U.S.A., Ecuador, Panama and New Zealand).
The climate capacity/needs assessment being supported by the Climate Action Secretariat and FNLC has seen a survey go out to all First Nations in B.C. on the challenges they face regarding capacity to act on climate change, and data provided by the Secretariat will support research and recommendations by FNLC to strengthen capacity.
Previous years’ progress
Highlights
2024 marked the third year of the Indigenous climate resilience forum. This year, 349 participants came together to share and learn about various perspectives, initiatives and insights related to Indigenous climate resilience. Over the three-day virtual forum, 143 B.C. First Nations and 15 Nations outside of B.C. attended the event. In addition, 101 different organizations also attended the event, of which 36 were Indigenous organizations, including 23 First Nations organizations, three Métis organizations, and 10 unspecified Indigenous organizations. Fourteen First Nations communities and Indigenous organizations presented at the forum. This is an increase from the forum held in March 2023, which included 235 people representing 113 First Nations and Indigenous organizations. The B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy’s Climate Action Secretariat (CAS) and the B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) collaborated with the Indigenous climate adaptation working group to host the forum. This year’s event included keynote speaker David Suzuki; Elder and Knowledge Keeper, Shane Pointe; and Youth Witness, Taylor Behn-Tsakoza.
In collaboration with Coastal First Nations Great Bear Initiative and First Nations Emergency Services Society, the Province launched the Indigenous climate resilience capacity-building pilot project. The $2 million pilot project has been extended to the end of 2024/25. Program design is underway and four regional climate action coordinators have been hired and are being onboarded. The pilot project steering committee, with representatives from Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group (ICAWG) and the First Nations Leadership Council – BC Technical Working Group on Climate Change (FNLC-TWG), will provide oversight over the life of the project. In 2023, Minister George Heyman joined ICAWG members (Co-Chair Denni Clement and Judy Wilson) at the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai to talk about the collaboration between the Province and Indigenous Peoples through ICAWG and the pilot. The pilot tests known models (as demonstrated by the CFN-GBI Climate Action Coordinator network) for enhancing Indigenous capacity in climate adaptation and resilience and demonstrates the value of this increased capacity of First Nations from around the province to inform potential future investment. It is intended to support First Nations to pursue their climate adaptation planning and implementation priorities and protect First Nations’ title and rights and their holistic health and well-being from the impacts of climate change.
The First Nations Leadership Council, with financial assistance from the Province, will support a climate capacity and needs assessment for First Nations. The initiative will identify climate capacity best practices, needs, gaps and challenges within First Nations communities to support and strengthen their capacity and it will be available to First Nations to prepare for and respond to climate change. This assessment will also identify barriers to the implementation of self-determined climate change actions and First Nations participation in provincial decision-making on climate initiatives, and help to develop solutions to those barriers.
CAS worked with the FNLC-TWG and the ICAWG to collaboratively develop indicators noted below for Action 2.12:
Appropriate mechanisms or governance structures have been developed to support collaborative implementation of CleanBC and the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, as well as collaborative prioritization and work planning. The expected outcome is a formal structure for Indigenous advisory/working groups to engage in dialogue, provide strategic advice and ensure the perspectives, knowledge and experience of First Nation/Indigenous rights and title holders are included in development and implementation of climate initiatives.
Collaborative prioritization and work planning with Indigenous advisory/working groups, with the outcome of meaningful engagement and collaboration with advisory/working groups on areas of shared priorities pertaining to CleanBC, the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, and the First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan; and
A number of Indigenous partners, First Nations title and rights holders and treaty rights holders meaningfully engaged, with the outcome of broad engagement with Indigenous Peoples on climate initiatives in addition to collaboration with advisory/working groups (e.g. 95 participants from Fall 2022 CleanBC engagement).
How are we working together?
CAS meets monthly with the FNLC-TWG and are making progress on the collaborative implementation of CleanBC and CPAS. First Nations rights-holders are also engaged directly on policy and legislation development projects associated with CleanBC and CPAS, in accordance with a distinctions-based approach.
For example, CAS utilized different approaches for First Nations, Modern Treaty Nations and Métis according to each group’s distinct rights, laws, legal systems and systems of governance during engagement on new policies relating to the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030, including: Province-wide net zero target, net zero new industry, output-based pricing system, and the oil and gas emissions cap. First Nations and Modern Treaty Nations were engaged on the policies as rights holders in B.C. Métis Nation BC was included through information sharing but was not engaged as a rights-holder. In 2023, in co-ordination with the Ministry of Forests, CAS continued engagement with First Nations and First Nations organizations that was initiated in 2021 on the B.C. Forest Carbon Offset Protocol (FCOP), also following a distinctions-based approach.
CAS is working with FNLC-TWG to further improve the provision of consistent information to First Nations on future planned engagements. CAS is also working with FNLC and ministry partners to continue to improve co-ordination, alignment and prioritization on engagement in the climate action space and communicate how First Nations’ input and feedback is used in a way that is more integrated across policy issues.
The ICAWG comprises people who identify as Indigenous (i.e. have First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit ancestry) and have expertise and/or experience related to climate change adaptation and advancing climate action in their communities and/or as part of their work. CAS meets with ICAWG monthly to discuss matters related to implementation of the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, including planning the Indigenous Climate Resilience Forum.
Are there challenges?
Both the FNLC-TWG and the ICAWG provide valuable input to numerous provincial ministries to ensure consultation and engagement processes and policy/legislative development related to climate change and adaptation are aligned with the Declaration Act.
CAS has adopted a distinctions-based approach to create engagements tailored for First Nations and Modern Treaty Nations as rights holders and utilize a separate approach to engage with Métis. These tailored approaches were used to engage on the CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 policies including: province-wide net zero target, net zero new industry, output-based pricing system, and the oil and gas emissions cap. Concerns have been raised regarding the capacity of First Nations to meaningfully engage in co-development of policies and legislation associated with B.C.’s climate plans, with some expressing a need for additional supports and information when conducting analyses and engaging on more technical matters. CAS has also heard concerns from First Nations about the need to improve the co-ordination of engagements and priorities and provide more clarity on how the Province is integrating feedback from engagement activities, as well as the need for more resources/training to support non-Indigenous staff to effectively action the Declaration Act and engage First Nations in a culturally safe manner.
Highlights
In collaboration with Coastal First Nations Great Bear Initiative and First Nations Emergency Services Society, the Province is launching the Indigenous Climate Resilience Capacity-building Pilot. The Pilot will identify models for enhancing Indigenous capacity in climate adaptation and resilience and demonstrate the value of this increased capacity of Indigenous communities and organizations to inform potential future investment. It will support First Nations to pursue their climate adaptation planning and implementation priorities and protect First Nations’ title and rights and their holistic health and well-being from the impacts of climate change.
The First Nations Leadership Council, with financial assistance from the Province, will support a Climate Capacity and Needs Assessment for First Nations. This initiative will identify climate capacity best practices, needs, gaps and challenges within First Nations communities to support and strengthen the capacity within and will be available to First Nations to prepare for and respond to climate change. This assessment will also identify barriers to the implementation of self-determined climate change actions and First Nations participation in provincial climate change making decisions and help to develop solutions to those barriers.
The Climate Action Secretariat (CAS) worked with the First Nations Leadership Council – BC Technical Working Group on Climate Change and the Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group to collaboratively develop draft indicators for Action 2.12. Measures to evaluate success include the following:
- Appropriate mechanisms or governance structures in place to support collaborative implementation of CleanBC and the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy. The expected outcome is a formal structure for Indigenous advisory/working groups to engage in dialogue, provide strategic advice and ensure Indigenous perspectives, knowledge and experience of First Nation rights and title holders are included in development and implementation of climate initiatives
- Collaborative prioritization and work planning with Indigenous advisory/working groups, with the outcome of meaningful engagement and collaboration with advisory/working groups on areas of shared priorities pertaining to CleanBC, the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy and the First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan, and
- Indigenous partners, First Nations title and rights holders and treaty rights holders meaningfully engaged, with the outcome of broad engagement with Indigenous Peoples on climate initiatives in addition to collaboration with advisory/working groups.
Indicators
- Strategic engagement underway: Monthly meetings between CAS and two Indigenous advisory groups including the First Nations Leadership Council – BC Technical Working Group on Climate Change and the Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group (ICAWG), provide a venue to share information on emerging climate policy and legislative initiatives and advice to CAS staff on consultation and engagement.
- Implementation project underway: ICAWG and CAS worked collaboratively to design and seek project delivery partners for the Indigenous Climate Resilience Capacity-building Pilot Project, which is a project that will continue in 2023/24 to explore ways to support Indigenous climate resilience capacity and skill-building needs.
- Number of engagement participants in programs and events: 95 participants attended the Fall 2022 CleanBC Roadmap to 2030 Indigenous engagement sessions (virtual and in-person); 235 people (representing 113 First Nations and Indigenous organizations) attended the three-day virtual Indigenous Climate Resilience Forum.
How are we working together?
Monthly meetings are held between the Climate Action Secretariat and two Indigenous advisory groups: 1) First Nations Leadership Council – BC Technical Working Group on Climate Change and 2) Indigenous Climate Adaptation Working Group. These working groups were established to provide a technical venue to engage in dialogue, provide strategic advice related to climate change initiatives and ensure that First Nations and Indigenous perspectives and interests are included in development and implementation of CleanBC and the Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy.
Broad Indigenous engagement forums were held on CleanBC Roadmap implementation and attended by 95 First Nations and Indigenous organizations. A virtual Indigenous Climate Resilience Forum was held over three days and attended by 235 people representing 113 First Nations and Indigenous organizations. In addition, individual engagements/consultations were carried out on specific initiatives such as clean energy opportunities, Remote Community Energy Strategy, Forest Carbon Offset Protocol, energy efficiency standards, clean transportation and carbon pricing.
Are there challenges?
There is a clear expectation that new initiatives and legislation align with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), regardless of when work may have started on them. Recent guidance is helping to ensure this analysis is completed in a consistent and thorough way.
Concerns have been raised regarding the capacity of Indigenous Peoples to meaningfully engage in co-development of policies and legislation associated with B.C.’s climate plans. These issues and approaches to address free, prior and informed consent, will continue to be discussed with the First Nations Leadership Council – BC Technical Working Group on Climate Change in the coming year.