RECONCILIATION: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER - INTRODUCTION
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1 INTRODUCTION Since being established as a Crown agency 2 of the Province of British Columbia (BC) in 1967, BC Housing has been operating on the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples to develop, manage and administer housing options for BC residents. BC Housing partners with hundreds of non-profit, private sector, and Indigenous organizations to deliver a range of quality services. Their vision is to “serve as a trusted leader and partner in sustainable solutions for British Columbians.” 3 BC Housing has developed strong relationships with Indigenous community partners and works to enhance these relationships and incorporate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) into their operational and business practices. To develop a stronger level of commitment to reconciliation, BC Housing is developing a Reconciliation Strategy that will provide a framework for how they support the development and operation of affordable and social housing across the province. This includes a stronger level of commitment to their implementation of UNDRIP and the TRC’s Calls to Action. BC Housing commissioned Two Worlds Consulting (TWC) to lead discussions with Indigenous Nations, communities, organizations, BC Housing staff, and BC Housing’s Board of Commissioners about BC Housing's approach to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, including key actions and measures for tracking progress. Through one-on-one phone discussions and written submissions, interview participants expressed their views on what reconciliation means, how BC Housing can meaningfully commit to reconciliation through action, and what they would like to see reflected in the Reconciliation Strategy. The “Reconciliation: Moving Forward Together” report (the Report) captures the perspectives of all participants on how BC Housing can take action on a collaborative basis with their partners to support reconciliation. The Report provides a set of preliminary recommendations for BC Housing, which will inform their development and implementation of a Reconciliation Strategy in collaboration with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations. What is Reconciliation? Reconciliation emerged as a response to the historical injustices and discrimination against Indigenous peoples resulting from colonial systems and ethnocentric views that have centred Western 4 (e.g., European/North American) ideals and knowledge systems. Canada’s policies 2 Crown agencies and corporations are organizations that are wholly owned by the federal or provincial government, established and funded by the government to provide specialized goods and services to Canadians. Like the Crown, they have a responsibility to making amends for any colonial practices they may have enacted in the past and repair and/or improve their relationships with Indigenous peoples. 3 BC Housing, “Mission, Vision, Values.” Accessed March 26, 2020. 4 The use of the term “Western” refers to social norms, ethical values, traditional customs, belief systems, and political systems of western European and North American society.
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