Vancouver City Council Passes Historic UNDRIP Strategy

Vancouver City Council Passes Historic UNDRIP Strategy

News & UpdatesVancouver City Council Passes Historic UNDRIP Strategy

Vancouver City Council Passes Historic UNDRIP Strategy

Today, October 25, 2022, Vancouver City Council passed the City of Vancouver’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Strategy, as recommended by a Task Force led by the Musqueam Indian Band, Squamish Nation, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The adoption of the UNDRIP Strategy is historic, positioning Vancouver as a national and global leader in implementing a clear way forward towards reconciliation.

Implementation of the Strategy’s 79 calls-to-action across City departments and services will help fulfill the Task Force’s goal to see Indigenous Peoples achieving full enjoyment of the rights articulated in UNDRIP across Vancouver. 

Tsleil-Waututh Nation Councillors Dennis Thomas and Charlene Aleck are members of the UNDRIP Steering Committee guiding the work, while TWN staff are members of the Task Force. The Task Force identified specific calls-to-action under the four themes of the BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act):

·      Social, cultural, and economic well-being 

·      Ending Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination 

·      Self-determination and inherent right of self-government 

·      Rights and title of Indigenous People 

At the start of the Task Force’s presentation in council chambers, Councillor Dennis Thomas shared welcoming remarks and a prayer song by Chief Dan George and thanked Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh family members that are part of the UNDRIP work. Councillor Dennis shared how “this wasn’t just a Task Force, it was an experiential journey, a transformative process.”

Squamish Nation Chairperson and Task Force Co-Chair Khelsilem defined free, prior, and informed consent as a human right – developing a process for a government-to-government relationship based on mutual respect, good faith, and an understanding of shared jurisdiction. Khelsilem also stated: “The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is a framework for reconciliation. I am proud to present the first-ever co-developed strategy between a city and local First Nations to implement UNDRIP. This is implementing a key call-to-action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and becomes a road map for a meaningful and impactful relationship between Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh, with the City of Vancouver, that benefits all of Vancouver.”

City of Vancouver Councillor and Task Force Co-Chair Christine Boyle spoke of how there is much work ahead and how Vancouver is a colonial institution that has upheld harmful colonial laws that result in ongoing inequities. She also stated that, as a City of Reconciliation, “The 79 actions within this UNDRIP Strategy will strengthen Indigenous rights, create new pathways for government-to-government relationships, and improve life for Indigenous people in Vancouver.”

A new intergovernmental committee with representatives from the Host Nations, the City, and urban Indigenous populations will determine what is needed to implement each call-to-action and report back to council with an action plan on how to implement the strategy’s recommendations.


Read the full strategy

Latest Articles

We are thrilled to announce that Tsleil-Waututh Nation (TWN) in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) Coastal Community of Care have won a 2023 BC Quality Award in the “Coping with Transition from Life” category for their work towards providing high-quality, culturally safe palliative care to community members at any level and point in the care continuum.
Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s Treaty, Lands and Resources (TLR) department has recently completed several marine restoration projects that took place over four years in protecting Burrard Inlet. These projects were done to help restore the health of Burrard Inlet by providing habitat for fish and other critters.
On March 7, 2023, Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s Council members and staff welcomed UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Francisco Calí Tzay for a special meeting.
MST Development, featuring Chief Jen Thomas of Tsleil-Waututh Nation, alongside Chief Wayne Sparrow of Musqueam Band, and Council Chairperson Khelsilem of Squamish Nation, has been named top 3 in Vancouver Magazine’s 22nd Annual Power 50 for 2023.
‘Protect Our Land’ is a song written and recorded by a group of our youth from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation siʔáḿθɘt school. The song and accompanying music video were produced by N’we Jinan, a travelling, Indigenous-led studio that works with First Nations youth across Canada.
Congratulations to Warrior Plumbing and Curtis Thomas, President and Business Development, for winning a 2022 BC Indigenous Business Award for “Business of the Year 11+ person enterprise”.