The purpose of this research project is to gather community feedback regarding the consultation process on the British Columbia Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (BC DRIPA).
This research project is being conducted by the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) Policy Unit.
Answers to this survey will be used to formulate a larger feedback report on the overall BC DRIPA consultation process to be shared with the provincial government, sector partners, and Indigenous communities.
You are invited to participate in this research project because you are:
– an Indigenous person, i.e. First Nation (Status or Non-Status), Métis, Inuit;
– an individual (Indigenous or non-Indigenous) who accesses services at a Friendship Centre;
– an individual who has a vested interest in the Friendship Centre movement;
– an individual who is currently or was previously employed by or has volunteered with a Friendship Centre, or;
– an individual interested in the BC DRIPA consultation process.
The survey closes on November 30, 2021.
***Please review the information below before completing the survey. The survey link will open in a separate window, so you can refer back to this page.***
Upon completing the short or full survey you will have the opportunity to enter your email through a separate form for a chance to win gift cards (more information below).
Thank you for your time and energy participating in the survey.
Consent and Privacy
By participating in the survey, you are consenting to the information you provide being used in the following ways:
– To formulate a larger feedback report on the overall consultation process with respect to BC DRIPA, which will be provided to provincial government, sector partners, and Indigenous communities.
– To inform future research projects.
This information will not be used in a way that personally identifies you.
If you have any questions about the research project, please contact policyteam@bcaafc.com.
Definitions and Acronyms
BC DRIPA – The BC government passed Bill 41: The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) into law on November 28, 2019. DRIPA establishes the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) as the Province’s framework for reconciliation, as called for by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) Calls to Action.
Disenfranchised – An Indigenous person who has lost their Indian Status and has therefore been deprived of their inherent constitutional rights enshrined by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, which provides constitutional protection to the Indigenous Peoples in what is now known as Canada.
Indigenous Governing Body – A council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (e.g. Band Councils, Tribal authorities).
Indigenous Person – “Indigenous” describes any group of people native to a specific region since time immemorial. However, questions regarding Indigenous identity in this survey are specific to Indigenous Peoples recognized by the Canadian government (First Nations (Status or Non-status), Inuit, and Métis).
TRC – The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada was a truth and reconciliation commission active in Canada from 2008 to 2015, organized by the parties of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
UNDRIP – The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is an international instrument adopted by the United Nations on September 13, 2007. UNDRIP protects collective Indigenous rights that may not be addressed in other human rights law. In December 2020, the Government of Canada introduced legislation to implement UNDRIP. On June 21, 2021, Bill C-15, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent.
Section I: Getting To Know You
This information will not be used in a way that personally identifies you.
Section II: Familiarity with Declaration and Information Sharing
The TRC’s Calls to Action are specific to Canada and are focused on addressing the historical and ongoing damage caused by colonialism and the residential school system. The TRC called on all governments in Canada to fully adopt and implement UNDRIP as a framework for reconciliation while focusing on improving the rights and well-being of Indigenous Peoples, covering areas such as child welfare, education, language and culture, health, social, governance, economic outcomes, and justice.
BC DRIPA imposes three distinct procedural obligations on the provincial government:
– To align provincial laws with UNDRIP;
– To establish an action plan to meet the objectives of UNDRIP; and
– To produce annual reports on progress.
All of these obligations are to be met in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples.
Section III: Consultation
Work to implement British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act has been underway for the past two years.
The BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People’s Act enables new decision-making agreements between BC and Indigenous governing bodies on decisions that directly affect Indigenous Peoples as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Indigenous governing body means a council (Band Council), government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Section IV: Action Plan
The British Columbia Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIPA) Act aims to create a path forward that respects the human rights of Indigenous peoples while introducing better accountability, transparency and predictability on behalf of the province. It requires the development of an Action Plan to achieve this alignment over time.
DRIPA requires British Columbia to ensure that all its provincial laws are “consistent with” UNDRIP, through consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples.
Resources
For more information on the BC DRIPA legislation and UNDRIP please visit:
