An ORCBC Guide to Citizen-Based Reconciliation:
Reconciliation Committee Webinar Takeaways and Resources

Webinar Summary

For the past year, the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC’s Reconciliation Committee has worked to develop a framework it could recommend to the ORCBC membership. The result is a set of 8 guiding principles (see below) that revolve around the concept of Citizen Based Reconciliation: encouraging members and individuals to get involved in reconciliation at a grassroots and person-to-person level. 

In a webinar on March 19, 2026, a five-person panel shared three examples of what this can look like.

Watch a recording of the webinar on the ORCBC’s YouTube page.

Webinar guests

1. Lower Fraser River Collaborative Table

Rod Clapton and Rod Peters shared the importance of personal relationships in efforts to de-escalate tensions and preserve fishing opportunities on the Fraser River. They worked together to create the Fraser River Peacemakers and its evolution, the Lower Fraser River Collaborative Table. 

Rod Clapton: president of the BC Federation of Drift Fishers and member of the Lower Fraser River Collaborative Table (now on pause). rclapton@shaw.ca

Rod Peters: member of the Seabird Island Band, delegate to the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance and part of the Lower Fraser River Collaborative Table. c.rodneypeters@seabirdisland.ca

2. BC Marine Trails recreation site mapping

Norman Marcy from BC Marine Trails shared the organization's use of concurrence, compromise and listening, to seek permission from First Nations to use recreational sites. BCMT has actively collaborated with 50 of the 74 First Nations on the BC coast. They work directly with Nations to remove sensitive sites from recreational paddling maps and steer recreational use to accepted campsites, rest areas and launches.  

Norman Marcy: BC Marine Trails. nmarcy@telus.net

3. Papt Ku Gwenis project

Morris Prosser and Liam Ragan explained how BC Nature and the Lillooet Naturalist Society are working with the Tsal’alh First Nation on the Papt Ku Gwenis: Gwenis Forever Project. The project is monitoring the spawning of Gwenis, a unique black Kokanee salmon, with the aim of restoring populations of this important food fish. 

Liam Ragan: BC Nature’s Key Biodiversity Areas, Program Manager. lragan@bcnature.ca

Morris Prosser: councillor for the Tsal’alh First Nation, involved in Gwamis Forever project. morrisfrederickprosser@gmail.com

7 key takeaways

1. Start with coffee

   Invite two or three people to coffee. The simple, human connection of sitting across the table and talking about fish and fishing is how the Peacemakers defused violent tensions on the Fraser River.

2. Share experiences

   Rod Peters shared that the Lower Fraser Collaborative Table members spent a day together on the Fraser River, which helped build trust and friendly relationships. He says he’s now friends with members of the LFCT.

3. Focus on common goals

   In both the Papt Ku Gwenis and the Lower Fraser Collaborative Table, finding a shared interest made it easier to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together to work towards a common goal. In the Gwenis project it was learning more about a unique lake ecology. In the Collaborative Table example it was preserving fishing opportunities so everyone’s grand kids could fish on the river.

4. Compromise is part of reconciliation

   BC Marine Trails has removed 124 sites from its maps at the request of First Nations and other land owners, many in busy paddling zones like the Southern Gulf Islands. Losing access is never popular, but part of reconciliation is being sensitive to the wishes of First Nations.

5. Find familiarity 

   Using local connections has opened doors for BC Nature’s efforts to engage with more than 200 First Nations in BC. Before reaching out to Nations in other parts of the province, Liam Ragan says he always starts by asking local naturalist groups to make connections with people they already know in the community. It helps build relationships much faster than with a cold call.

6. Contribute with capacity

   One of the best ways for recreation organizations to begin building relationships with First Nations is by contributing to projects they are already working on but could use some help. For instance, the Lillooet Naturalist Society helped walk the lake shore to monitor Gwenis spawning. 

7. Don’t let the noise hold you back

   The panel was unanimous in emphasizing that the news cycle shouldn’t factor into grassroots efforts and Citizen Based Reconciliation. Ignore court cases and political posturing and focus on building meaningful relationships.

Resources and links

Guidance Toolkit for Engagement with Indigenous Communities: Tools for recreation organizations embarking on discussions and relationship building with First Nations at the community level.

Working in a Good Way: A best practices guide for engaging and working with Indigenous Peoples on trails and outdoor recreation projects in BC. Produced by ORCBC in 2019.

ORCBC Reconciliation Committee Statement on Citizen Based Reconciliation

1. The basis of Citizen Based Reconciliation is the acknowledgement of past injustices and the commitment to working with indigenous peoples to rectify them.

2. CBR means local recreation and Indigenous communities working together directly, through respectful person to person dialogue, to build relationships and address shared challenges.

3. Constitutionally protected rights for all citizens must be acknowledged and respected.

4. Access and opportunities for all citizens must remain a priority in reconciliation discussions , ensuring that reconciliation efforts do not compromise the public interest in fair and open access to Crown lands.

5. ORCBC can provide guidance and support for CBR  ORCBC should not engage in legal or constitutional advocacy, as these issues are outside of the ORCBC mandate.

6. ORCBC should not engage in legal or constitutional advocacy, as these issues are outside of the ORCBC mandate.

7. CBR is based on respect for the diversity of views across the outdoor and indigenous communities.

8. True reconciliation requires everyone to seek meaningful ways to contribute.

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