RECONCILIATION: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER - BACKGROUND
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homes across the province. In 2019, BC Housing and AHMA renewed the Indigenous Social Housing Management Agreement (ISHMA). Of the 819 housing providers that BC Housing works with, the organization has a network of 55 Indigenous housing providers that deliver housing to Indigenous families and individuals in 71 communities across the province. 44 Between 2005 and 2013, BC Housing went through a process to transfer the Indigenous housing portfolio to AHMA. This included transferring all 40 of BC Housing’s operating agreements with Indigenous housing providers over to AHMA. 45 Today, BC Housing’s relationships with Indigenous housing providers mostly flows through AHMA. However, relationships continue to exist in a more direct manner through partnerships to increase the self-reliance in the housing sector and through BC Housing’s Development and Asset Strategies Branch, which works with Indigenous housing providers on the development of new housing projects. 46 In addition to AHMA, BC Housing is starting to build a relationship with the First Nations Housing and Infrastructure Council (FNHIC), which is a community-driven, First Nations- controlled Housing and Infrastructure Council in BC. The FNHIC is in its early stages of development; however, once developed, it aims to assume responsibility and accountability for designing and delivering housing and infrastructure programs and services to BC First Nations. Moreover, the FNHIC aims to assume the federal government’s authorities and will have the ability to determine its own programs, services, and delivery agents similarly to provincial and federal governments. 47 The FNHIC are working closely with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to negotiate the terms of transferring authority of housing and infrastructure from the Government of Canada to the FNHIC. 48 The role of the Province of BC (including the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and BC Housing) is still being determined. However, the FNHIC have stated that they will “continue discussion with the provincial government to determine what opportunities exist for collaboration to support its goal to harmonize on and off reserve housing and blur the boundary between what have historically been separate and uncooperative jurisdictions.” 49 BC Housing has also established relationships and partnerships with several First Nations communities, and is collaborating with Nations on housing projects, strengthening their capacity in asset management, hiring Nation members, and procuring Indigenous-owned businesses. 50 In some cases, partnerships are formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). MOUs are in place with East Kootenay area bands (Shuswap Indian Band, Tobacco Plains Indian Band, and ʔ aq̓am Community) Kwikwetlem First Nation, 44 Ibid. 45 BC Housing 2013. 46 BC Housing PAR Submission 2018 47 “FAQ,” First Nations Housing and Infrastructure Council, Accessed August 25, 2020. https://www.fnhic-bc.ca/faq
48 Ibid. 49 Ibid. 50 BC Housing PAR Submission 2018
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