RECONCILIATION: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER - BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
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having an informal dinner with the AHMA’s Board members to support relationship-building. As one member explains, “We are just getting to know each other, which is important because it goes a long way in giving importance to the Indigenous community. – BC Housing Board Member Board members expressed an interest in playing a larger role in relationship-building with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations and that there is still room to expand their efforts to organizations and communities outside of AHMA. A couple of people also highlighted the need to re-evaluate the nature of BC Housing’s relationships with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations and alluded to a power imbalance between BC Housing and Indigenous groups due to dynamics resulting from the funder and recipient roles. They further elaborated that this has led to paternalism within some of the relationships. One Board member suggested that BC Housing focus on enhancing cooperation, partnership, and co-design within their relationships with Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations. “We need to think about the power dynamics in relationships. There is a dilemma where people who have power and influence speak about their role and responsibility to empower someone else. If someone has that role and responsibility, it means that they stay in that position of power. – BC Housing Board Member 6.3.3.2 Suggestions for Improving Relationships Board members suggested that conversations with
Why This Is Important A key message provided by Board members is to listen to Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations regarding ways to improve relationships. This statement also emphasizes the need to listen and to learn what is working and what is not – understanding that this is an important aspect of building relationships.
Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations need to be occurring on an ongoing basis and that relationship- building will require that the Board and BC Housing keep in touch with groups and meet with them more than just one time. Furthermore, we heard that it is important to remain open to feedback from Indigenous groups about how to improve the relationships. One Board member offered insight regarding the relevance of keeping an open mind when developing relationships built on reciprocity and respect. They stated,
“We need to ensure that if we are confronted with something that we don’t get defensive, but we stay open and curious. We need to have reciprocity in our relationships – we need to look at how we do it instead of how we speak to it. – BC Housing Board Member
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