First Nations – BC Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum
About the Forum
The Together for Wildlife strategy sets a direction for wildlife and habitat conservation in British Columbia from 2020 to 2030.
The First Nations–BC Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum is a technical, advisory body supporting the advancement of Goal 5 of the BC Together for Wildlife strategy which states the intention that “Collaborative wildlife stewardship advances reconciliation with Indigenous governments.”
The Fraser Basin Council serves as a facilitator for the Forum and its three working groups.
A priority goal for First Nations participants of the Forum is to support movement towards long-term co-management and stewardship of wildlife and habitat in BC that is acknowledged and accepted as such by Indigenous governments and the Province of BC.
The First Nations–BC Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum follows the process of Ethical Space where Indigenous and non-Indigenous technical experts collaboratively develop protocols enabling multiple knowledge systems to interact and co-produce solutions related to provincial initiatives, strategies and provincial policy and legislation. This approach changes the narrative to include the perspectives and aspirations of First Nations technical experts with trust and mutual respect.It is important to note that the Forum’s work is purely advisory in nature and is not a substitute for the Province’s constitutional duties of consultation with all First Nations governments.
The work of the Forum so far includes:
Development of the Cultivating Abundance document (2019) which summarizing the Forum’s perspectives and aspirations
Co-development of sections of the Together for Wildlife Strategy including Goal 5 “Advancing Reconciliation: A Shared Path with Indigenous Governments” (2020)
Co-development of Policy Intentions Paper outlining four proposed amendments to the Wildlife Act (2020). The Wildlife Amendment Act received Royal Assent June 2, 2022 and came into force September 1, 2022. Key changes include a requirement to consider Indigenous Knowledge, establish a process by which the Province can align its laws with protocol hunting agreements and a non-derogation provision added to the Interpretation Act ensuring that the Wildlife Act does not negatively impact Aboriginal constitutional and treaty rights.
Co-drafted an Indigenous Knowledge in Wildlife Decisions Policy (2022)
The Fraser Basin Council also provides planning and engagement support to the Province of BC in the advancement of Action 2 in the Together for Wildlife Strategy, the development of Regional Wildlife Advisory Committees (RWACs), beginning in the Thompson-Okanagan and Kootenay-Boundary regions.
The RWACs aim to bring forward regional perspectives and provide opportunities for collaboration to improve wildlife stewardship among provincial government programs, industry, stakeholders, local governments and the public. These advisory groups are intended to complement the government-to-government relationships BC is committing to pursuing with Indigenous governments.
