How are we working together?
The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction (SDPR) undertook a broad distinctions-based engagement from Winter 2022/2023 through Spring 2024 to update B.C.’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. The 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy was released on July 24, 2024.
Targeted consultation was conducted with key partners between April – July 2024, (including the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, Métis Nation BC, and the First Nations Leadership Council), to refine the strategy and prepare for its launch.
The ministry is continuing to work with partners to incorporate Indigenous experiences and knowledge of poverty and well-being into ongoing poverty reduction initiatives and annual reporting. This includes providing funding to:
- First Nations Summit since 2020 to establish the First Nations Well Being Fund in support of B.C.’s poverty reduction efforts. Part of this funding has supported First Nations to develop their own poverty reduction or well-being plans, and to undertake engagement with First Nations to develop indicators that measure well-being in community.
- Métis Nation BC in 2020 to support Métis well-being through a one-time grant for a tenancy support program, and a Métis healthy living cooking workshop series, which Métis Nation BC developed in 2023 and administered in 2024.
- United Way BC in 2023 to administer the Critical Food Infrastructure Fund, with funding going towards Indigenous and urban Indigenous-serving organizations to support food security and poverty reduction initiatives.
Engagement is ongoing with the Minister’s Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee, which includes representation from the First Nations Leadership Council, Métis Nation BC and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres. The ministry also engaged with participants at the 2024 Elders’ Gathering and the 2025 B.C. Cabinet and First Nations Leaders’ Gathering through presence at booths.
Are there challenges?
Action 4.15 requires Indigenous-identified actions and progress measures to be included in the 2024 strategy (complete) and annual progress reporting. The inclusion of relevant progress measures will be informed by work underway across the provincial government to improve on existing measures and understanding of well-being and quality of life in B.C., including progress measures co-developed with Indigenous Peoples. These progress measures will be incorporated into ongoing annual reporting when they become available.
Highlights
Key highlights for this reporting period include:
- Consultation on the final draft of the 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy, including targeted engagement with the First Nations Leadership Council, Métis Nation BC, and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres.
- Sharing an embargoed copy of the final draft and inviting representatives from First Nations Leadership Council, Métis Nation BC, and BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres to a pre-release briefing.
- Sharing the 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy with all Indigenous and non-Indigenous partners and interested parties who provided input during its development.
- Honouring reconciliation commitments by including Indigenous-identified actions in the strategy and recognizing that the ongoing practices and impacts of colonialism are the root cause of Indigenous peoples’ experiences with poverty and disproportionately high poverty rates.
- Continuing to work across government and with Indigenous partners to incorporate Indigenous wellness measures and actions into the work.
Attending the 2024 Elders’ Gathering and the 2025 First Nations Leaders’ Gathering to engage attendees on the 2024 Poverty Reduction Strategy and progress measures work.
Previous years’ progress
Highlights
Engagement activities led to advice and input from First Nations and Métis leadership, as well as First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous representatives, organizations and people. Engagement results are available on the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction’s (SDPR) website.
Key highlights include:
- Communication with representatives from 61 First Nations, including Modern Treaty Nations, providing follow-up information, holding bilateral meetings (both at the First Nations Leadership Gathering and individual meetings), hosting engagement sessions and townhalls, attending First Nations Gatherings, presenting at Indigenous advisory tables and circles, focused discussions on legislative materials to support drafting approaches with representatives from all interested First Nations;
- Consultation with the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC), specifically, the FNLC policy and legal staff through a number of legislative co-development discussions over the length of the project to support the development of B.C.’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Act; and
- Partnership with Métis Nation BC (MNBC) throughout the project including funding a Métis-led engagement approach and consultation discussions on legislative materials to support the development of B.C.’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Act.
The poverty reduction strategy, which will be released in Spring 2024, recognizes the ongoing practices and impacts of colonialism on First Nations, Métis and Inuit. It includes Indigenous-identified actions, as gathered through engagement activities over the last year and a review of previous reports. As a result of feedback received, distinctions-based language has also been added into the Poverty Reduction Strategy Act. Further changes include the addition of new requirements that, when reviewing, developing and updating the strategy, the minister must also consider:
- the systemic causes of poverty when developing and updating the strategy, and
- actions and progress measures respecting the reduction and prevention of poverty that are recommended by Indigenous Peoples.
Progress measures are not included in the strategy but will be made available in the poverty reduction strategy annual reports, which are legislatively required to be prepared by October 1 of each year, tabled in the legislature as soon as is practicable after October 1, and posted online.
How are we working together?
SDPR undertook a distinctions-based engagement from winter 2022/2023 through March 2024 to renew B.C.’s poverty reduction strategy by the spring of 2024.
SDPR developed a consultation and co-operation plan based on advice from Indigenous leadership organizations and advisory groups. This includes the Minister’s Poverty Reduction Advisory Committee whose membership includes Indigenous leadership representatives from FNLC, MNBC and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC). SDPR hired an Indigenous facilitator (Mahihkan Management) to ensure engagement sessions were culturally safe, hosted in-person sessions, attended pre-existing conferences and gatherings, and provided appropriate honoraria and other financial supports at engagement sessions.
Métis were invited to attend engagement sessions hosted by the Indigenous facilitator, and there was Métis representation at three of the nine sessions. In addition, to ensure increased opportunity for Métis participation, SDPR funded a separate Métis engagement process through MNBC, focused on housing. This process resulted in a poverty reduction engagement and recommendations final report which informed the development of the strategy.
Urban Indigenous populations were engaged through various engagement streams: public survey, urban coalitions, town halls organized in partnership with BCAAFC, and SDPR attendance at gatherings, specifically, the BCAAFC membership meeting, the Elders Gathering and Gathering Our Voices Indigenous Youth Conference. SDPR has attended the BCAAFC membership meeting and Gathering Our Voices Indigenous Youth Conference in 2023 and 2024, and the ministry anticipates attending the Elders Gathering again in August 2024. SDPR had a number of co-development discussions on legislative materials to support drafting approaches with FNLC, specifically, the FNLC policy and legal staff. SDPR also had discussions on legislative materials to support drafting approaches with MNBC’s policy team as well as First Nations representatives who expressed interest.
Are there challenges?
Timing: The Poverty Reduction Strategy Act requires the strategy be tabled in the spring of 2024. Engagement with Indigenous partners was extended through to winter 2023 at the request of partners such as Métis Nation BC, who continued to receive feedback through December 2023. As a result, First Nations and Métis review of the poverty reduction strategy occurred through March 2024. Timelines are challenging but have been mitigated by sharing embargoed confidential drafts with interested First Nations and Métis representatives, who signed confidentiality agreements, to allow for a meaningful opportunity for input to be reflected. Addressing poverty requires broad and ongoing Indigenous engagement, so SDPR continues to engage all First Nations and seek invitations to pre-established Indigenous advisory councils and committees.