RECONCILIATION: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER - SUPPORTING RECONCILIATION
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• Continuation of collaborative communication and planning, regional and local conferences to consult Indigenous housing and service provider organizations on their needs; and, • Create Indigenous working groups to formulate culturally safe processes and policies. A respondent stated that while Indigenous Nations are always made to be accountable through reporting, BC Housing does not have the same transparency with its decisions.
A few respondents expressed that their Nation or organization lacks internal capacity to work towards self-determination. Suggestions for improvement included providing funding for internal positions (e.g., housing coordinators) to allow for Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations to support community housing needs as well as to participate in MOUs with BC Housing that define principles, objectives, shared interests and processes for working together. The focus is for Nations, communities, and organizations to develop a sustainable revenue stream without external help. A respondent commented that BC Housing’s
Why This Is Important Indigenous Nations, communities, and organizations commented that they need to grow their own internal housing expertise. Often times the work in communities and organizations on housing is one of several portfolios for a staff member. This is a critical aspect of capacity building to support the process of Indigenous communities and organizations being able to engage on an equal footing with government agencies.
internal Indigenous capacity should increase to be better equipped in assisting communities with their own capacity building. Several people also commented on the need to involve Indigenous people in decision-making processes within BC Housing. For example, one person indicated that Indigenous groups should be invited to provide input on policy development as opposed to just program development. We also heard from a respondent that BC Housing should move the decision-making authority to Indigenous peoples by devolving capital projects to AHMA. They explained that capital projects are initially managed by BC Housing before they are passed along to AHMA for the rest of operations. Transferring the housing development process to AHMA or another Indigenous organization would directly support Indigenous self-determination. “They need to continue handing over decision-making power and autonomy to communities even if it goes sideways. – Indigenous Nation “I think BC Housing (like all governments) still has issues of control and ownership and a hard time letting go of some of that control. – Indigenous Organization “But going back to UNDRIP, the key message is to get out of the way, step out of it and let Indigenous communities manage resources. We are going to fall down, scrape our knees, but get up and try again. We have capacity in Indigenous communities to move projects forward. – Indigenous Organization
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