RECONCILIATION: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER - MEASURING SUCCESS
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8.3.1.2 Challenges A few respondents noted the following challenges that may impact BC Housing’s ability to implement the Reconciliation Strategy: • Complex requirements within federal and provincial housing programs and processes, such as specific land designations and the need for communities to create housing societies, can impose barriers for Indigenous Nations and communities to participate in housing development; • Imbalanced power dynamics between BC Housing and Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations that exist (due to BC Housing’s funding role in the relationship) may impede reconciliation moving forward in a collaborative way; • A lack of internal experience with reconciliation and staffing capacity within BC Housing could present difficulties in creating a robust Reconciliation Strategy; and • The unique cultural, social, and economic housing needs of each Indigenous Nation, community, and organization within British Columbia may not be addressed in a provincial Reconciliation Strategy. It may be challenging for BC Housing to pursue and implement reconciliation through an Indigenous framework and approach. Reconciliation needs to be embraced through a deeper way of knowing; learning through an academic perspective is not enough. A lack of internal capacity within Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations could present difficulties participating in the creation of a Reconciliation Strategy. BC HOUSING STAFF 8.3.2.1 Measuring Success Most staff indicated that the success of the Reconciliation Strategy be measured through
feedback received from Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations, assessing the impacts of BC Housing’s efforts on Indigenous peoples in BC, achievement of reconciliation goals, and quantitative metrics in BC Housing’s plans and policies and number of agreements with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations. Over half of BC Housing staff recommended that the success of the Strategy be measured through
Why This Is Important Article 38 of UNDRIP emphasizes the importance of governments working in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples to take appropriate measures to honour the rights of Indigenous peoples. The key to measuring the impact and importance of Indigenous housing is through direct engagement with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations.
seeking feedback from Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations. Many staff expressed discomfort with the idea of BC Housing measuring its own progress toward reconciliation. They suggested that the organization listen to its Indigenous community partners to learn about how it is doing and where it can improve.
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