How are we working together?
Working together to ensure the needs of urban Indigenous Peoples are met has created stronger relationships between the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (MIRR) and Indigenous organizations, such as B.C.’s urban Indigenous coalitions, the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres, the Aboriginal Housing Management Association and others. Strengthening these relationships has helped the Province identify priority areas of focus and ensure meaningful feedback has been incorporated into the policies and programs that impact urban Indigenous Peoples.
Each of the Actions 4.21 – 4.24 are linked, with the understanding that establishing an engagement model (Action 4.21), gathering senior leaders regularly (Action 4.22), and ensuring an understanding of available programming and plan (Action 4.23), would inform making progress on this action.
Are there challenges?
Partners continue to reflect the need for durable funding and a continued prioritization of funding for urban Indigenous service providers.
MIRR staff are working to maintain strong relationships, while looking for ways to balance needs with available resources. Although partners have expressed concerns over the uncertainties in the current funding climate, there is a general understanding of the Province’s current fiscal pressures.
MIRR is making best efforts to minimize the impacts of expenditure management on our partners including urban Indigenous organizations.
Highlights
MIRR continues to support the implementation of Action 4.24, recognizing the important role that urban Indigenous organizations play in serving the needs of urban Indigenous Peoples in B.C.
Relationships remain positive and collaborative, with a strong focus on implementing what is possible under Action 4.21, through establishing an engagement model and coming together as described in Action 4.22.
Through meaningful engagement processes now being piloted in Action 4.21 efforts, staff in MIRR and other ministries can gain valuable insight as to how programs, policies and initiatives serving urban Indigenous people can better meet their needs.