British Columbia made history on November 28, 2019, when the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Declaration Act) became law. B.C. is the first jurisdiction in Canada to formally adopt the internationally recognized standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) through legislation.
The Declaration Act makes sure B.C. recognizes and respects the human rights of Indigenous peoples to help to build a stronger B.C. It brings First Nations and Indigenous peoples to the table for the decisions that affect them, their families and their territories. It establishes a plan to help Indigenous peoples and the B.C. government build a better future, together.
The journey will not always be easy and there’s a lot to do, but we’re making real progress towards reconciliation by working together.
➤ Explore news from the BC Government relating to Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.
Important Links
- National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation – Honouring and preserving residential school truths for all time, for all of Canada.
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls – National inquiry into MMIWGs.
- DRIPA (FNLC) – First Nations Leadership Council website on the BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
- DRIPA (BC Gov) – BC Government website on the BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
- BC’s Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation – This Ministry leads the B.C. Government in pursuing reconciliation with the First Nations and Indigenous peoples of British Columbia.
Last updated: June 14, 2021.