Indigenous Peoples & Reconciliation

The City Council has initiated formal relations on a government-to-government level with səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation. It aims to formally start relations with the following local Nations: the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) Nations. As our understanding of the history of this territory grows, we may explore relationships with other Nations.

Such connections aim to recognize and address the consequences of colonial policies and the corresponding lasting impacts experienced by Indigenous peoples while establishing effective working relationships. Once established, these relationships can guide further processes, projects and efforts to advance reconciliation at a corporate level.

As corporate reconciliation efforts increase and more staff are engaged in associated activities, there is a need to coordinate and prioritize information, consultation and collaboration opportunities with local Nations. The City has created a new role of Manager, Indigenous Relations, to oversee the City's framework for reconciliation and serve as the City's primary contact for its relationships and interactions with local Nations and Indigenous people.

Contact [email protected] for more information.

In recent years, the City has recognized the need for and begun to demonstrate ancestral and ongoing Indigenous presence on this land physically.

This work has resulted in creating an Indigenous Learning Week (in partnership with the Burnaby School District) and Matriarch's Garden at Burnaby Village Museum, the development of school/public programs at Burnaby Art Gallery and Burnaby Village Museum that incorporate and feature Indigenous content. It has also led to creating staff guidelines that inform and actualize territory acknowledgement at City events and in civic documents.

We have also created an Indigenous Learning House at Burnaby Village Museum. The museum's Indigenous educators work closely with local First Nations, Indigenous artists, elders and knowledge keepers to develop Indigenous curriculum materials for museum visitors. This work has also informed other related City processes and programs and has formed a cornerstone of the City's reconciliation efforts. Further opportunities to learn more and participate in Indigenous-led or oriented education and programs can be found on Recreation and Arts.

These processes and projects have strengthened staff relationships with local Nations, creating opportunities for possible further action to implement the TRC calls to action for local governments at a corporate level.

As part of the process, the council recognized the National Day of Indigenous Peoples. We actively promote and support Orange Shirt Day on September 30 each year.

Call #57 references the importance of training public servants to implement reconciliation efforts at a government level. The creation and formalization of Canada's governance structures occurred when our country's history was defined by apparent systematic attempts at destroying Indigenous peoples and their ways of life. The impacts of these structures and associated injustices continue to reverberate for Indigenous peoples and Nations.

The City aims to root out those harmful colonial processes and practices in our operations and services and develop training opportunities for our staff. This will help them operate in a culturally safe way and embed truth and reconciliation into their work.