Indigenous Relations & Reconciliation.

 

We believe that sustainable trail-building work, outdoor recreation projects, and collaboration with Indigenous communities must go hand in hand. Doing so will ensure the long-term sustainability of the trails and activities we love. We call this Working in a Good Way.

 

Destination BC | Patrice Halley photo

 

Stories on Reconciliation & the Outdoor Sector

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada defines reconciliation as “an ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships.”

The following stories show how people and organizations work towards better representation and relationship building in BC’s outdoor recreation sector.

 

Paul Lucas photo

Featured Blog Stories

More Stories

SORCA and Squamish Nation Memorandum of Understanding

The Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (SORCA) and the Squamish Nation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that affirms a partnership between the two, sharing stewardship responsibilities on trails and recreational areas in the Xay Temíxw (Scared Land) of the Squamish territory. Read more here.

Shuswap Trail Alliance and Secwépemc Create Understanding through Trails

The Shuswap Trail Alliance is a leader throughout the Shuswap watershed in Indigenous relationship Building. They made a significant effort to engage the Secwepemc peoples in developing their trail strategy and are working on the Secwépemc Landmarks Project to create awareness of Secwépemc traditional territory. 

The Lower Fraser Collaborative Table Work to Prevent Further Decline of Fish Stocks in the Fraser River

The collaborative table includes twenty-three First Nations, commercial and recreational fishers that are promoting collaboration and civil dialogue. Read more about it here.

The Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance is a voice of the First Nations of the Lower Fraser River. You can read more about it here.

The Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program Reconnects Youth with the Land

Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program assists First Nations with trail development, enables youth to reconnect with the land, and promotes the assertion of Indigenous rights and title by encouraging First Nations youth to participate in mountain biking.

Simpcw First Nation – Trails and Indigenous Rights & Title

The Simpcw First Nation, a Secwepemc Nation, are a trails and mountain bike Nation. They worked with the Western Canada Mountain Bike Tourism Association to develop trails and recreation plans that support their role as caretakers and stewards. The Nation has a trail building company which supports trails and recreation throughout the region. Read more about it here and here

Indigenous Women Create Space to Connect with the Land and Each Other

Indigenous Women Outdoors is an organization that eliminates barriers to getting into nature for women (including gender expansive community members such as cis women, trans women, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender queer community members, and any women-identified community members) living on unceded Sḵwx̱ú7mesh, Líl̓wat, səlil̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm territories.

 

Resources

Knowledge and understanding are key to building better relationships with Indigenous Peoples. We have put together a few resources that can help you get started. 

Please remember that building relationships can take time, and it will not look the same for everyone. If you need more help getting started, please reach out to us as we may be able to point you in the right direction.

 

Indigenous Tourism BC | Brendin Kelly | Nk'Mip Cultural Centre

 
 
 

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Our Efforts

The Outdoor Recreation Council of BC recognizes the need to focus on building relationships with Indigenous Peoples in the outdoor recreation sector. We strive to provide guidance and resources to the outdoor recreation sector on working cooperatively with Indigenous governments and communities on outdoor recreation projects.

The list below shows some of the steps we have taken. We look forward to continuing to build on our efforts and support the outdoor recreation sector.

 

Established Indigenous Reconciliation as a Guiding Organizational Value

  • A guiding value of the ORCBC is Indigenous Reconciliation. We acknowledge Indigenous rights and title and support increasing the capacity of Indigenous peoples in BC to steward their lands and waters as key to the future of healthy ecosystems, communities and respectful recreation.

Prioritized Indigenous Reconciliation as a Goal in our Strategic Plan

  • A major goal for the ORCBC is to “Pursue Indigenous reconciliation and relate the process to the outdoor recreation sector within the context of BC’s legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.” - Strategic Plan 2021-2025

Published a Best Practices Guide - “Working in a Good Way”

  • Authored by Patrick Lucas, co-founder of Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Project and published by ORCBC, “Working in a Good Way” is a best practices guide for engaging and working with Indigenous Peoples on trails and outdoor recreation projects in British Columbia. We encourage other organizations and our members to review this guide. 

Hosted Educational Webinars

  • In May 2021, we co-hosted “Decolonizing Outdoor Spaces” with the Wilderness Committee. You can watch the recording here.

  • In January 2021, we hosted “Working in a Good Way: Best practices and lessons learned for settlers and Indigenous peoples collaborating as allies and accomplices in recreation and reconciliation” with Patrick Lucas and Tom Eustache

Produced the “Working in a Good Way” Series of Blog Stories

  • In 2022, we are featuring a series of stories about reconciliation in the province. You can find them on our blog.

Established a Reconciliation Committee

  • At the end of 2021, the ORCBC’s Board of Directors established a Reconciliation Committee. The Reconciliation Committee is comprised of representatives from various ORCBC member organizations who are building the path to defining what reconciliation may look like for us and the outdoor recreation sector.

  • Members are:

    • Rod Clapton, Reconciliation Committee Chair and ORCBC director (BC Federation of Drift Fishers)

    • Peter Sprague (BC Off-Road Motorcycle Association)

    • Norman Marcy (BC Marine Trails)

    • Wayne Mercer, ORCBC Chair (Quadriders ATV Association of BC)

    • Eric Vanderkruk, ORCBC Vice-Chair (IMBA Canada)

    • David Oliver, ORCBC director (BC Wildlife Federation)

    • Ciel Sander, ORCBC past Chair (Trails BC)

    • Kim Reeves, ORCBC director (4 Wheel Drive Association of BC)

    • Dave Wharton, ORCBC director (Federation of Mountain Clubs of BC)

    • Louise Pedersen, ORCBC staff

Created a Reconciliation Statement

  • In October 2022, we finalized a statement on how the Reconciliation Committee and the ORCBC Board of Directors view our role in pursuing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and relating the process to the outdoor recreation sector. We see this statement as a living document that will change as we do some more “walking around” (MBWA). We recognize this is just the beginning of a long process, and we look forward to continuing this journey with our members.

 
 

Northern BC Tourism | Marcus Paladino