British Columbia 
Resolution 07/2023 mandates BCAFN to work with First Nations in BC to develop the First Nations Climate Leadership Agenda in British Columbia (the BC FNCL Agenda) and ensure their recommendations and policy directions are fully considered in the Canada-wide First Nations Climate Leadership Agenda.
Canada has committed to co-developing a distinction-based Indigenous Climate Leadership Agenda (ICLA) (Art. 46 UN Declaration Act Action Plan) that would build regional and national capacity and progressively place authority and resources for climate action in the hands of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and representative organizations. The Joint Committee on Climate Action (AFN-Canada Technical Table) laid the foundation for the Climate Leadership Agenda specific for First Nations (FNCL Agenda).
In BC, the FNCL Agenda will complement the work undertaken by the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC) to implement the BC First Nations Climate Strategy and Action Plan’s pathways and actions. Naqsmist and the BCAFN have joined forces to collaborate with First Nations title and rights holders in co-developing the FNCL Agenda in BC. Together we will conduct a series of engagement activities across BC to foster discussions and identify key priority actions and recommendations.
The BC FNCL Agenda will inform the Canada-wide FNCL Agenda, ultimately shaping the ICLA. The ICLA will be presented to the Cabinet and Treasury Board for implementation.
BC First Nations Climate Leadership Agenda Project Information Sheet | Learn more about the project here.
Engagement Activities
The BCAFN and Naqsmist will host and facilitate engagement sessions across BC between November 2023 – June 2024. Input from these sessions will identify and provide priority actions, policy directions, and concrete recommendations to the federal government for implementing and advancing the FNCL Agenda in BC.
There are a number of ways to participate, including:
A Vision For Co-development: The BC First Nations Climate Leadership Agenda
Zoom | Online
December 1, 2023
9 am – 12 pm
During this virtual session, we will kick off the BC First Nations Climate Leadership Agenda and discuss what “co-development” means for First Nations in BC. Input from this session will further inform the BC First Nations Climate Leadership Agenda engagement plan and question development throughout the broad regional engagement sessions in the Spring of 2024 and the recommendations in the final FNCL Agenda for BC.
In-person, Regional/Language Group Sessions
More details coming. Sessions will take place in the Spring of 2024.
There will be eight (8) in-person sessions where attendees will be asked to identify and provide priority actions, policy directions, and concrete recommendations to the federal government for implementing and advancing the FNCL Agenda in BC, ensuring the guiding principles are upheld.
The proposed locations are as follows:
- Salishan – Squamish, Fraser Valley, TBD
- Interior Salishan – Kamloops
- Athabaskan-Eyak-Tlingit/Na-Dene – Prince George
- Algonquian – Fort St. John
- Ktunaxa – Cranbrook
- Tsimshianic – Prince Rupert
- Wakashan – Campbell River
- X̱aayda Ki – Daajing Giids/Sandspit
Written Feedback
To offer another way of engaging anyone who could not attend in-person or who would like to offer more input, there will be an option of submitting written responses by First Nations governments, leaders, experts, or identified voices.
Two (2) Virtual Engagements to Validate Recommendations
More details to come in 2024.
The purpose of these sessions will be to validate the themes and recommendations that emerged from the engagement sessions.
To participate in any of these engagement activities or to learn more about the BC FNCL Agenda, please contact Patricia Rojas at patricia.rojas@bcafn.ca or Kristi Denby at kristi.denby@bcafn.ca
Engagement Approach
Led by Naqsmist, the FNCL Agenda in BC will use an engagement approach based on transformative storytelling and whole systems healing to build confidence and promote feelings of safety within individuals, teams, organizations and communities in order to promote good governance. We help guide people through conflict, trauma, grief and disconnect and share our processes and tools for people to use so they can improve the way they show up in their personal and work lives to solve problems and contribute to change in an effective and meaningful way.
