Action
Provincial Urban Leadership Initiative
Who is behind the PUL Initiative?
The Provincial Urban Leadership (PUL) initiative is a project currently hosted by the Victoria Coalition (currently called the Victoria Urban Indigenous Leadership Table), emerging out of the Victoria Urban Reconciliation Dialogues, and is a collaboration with the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.
The Coalition is co-chaired by Ron Rice (Quw’utsun) and Janice Simcoe (Anishinaabe). Participating Table members include Elders, adults and young adults, from nations near and far, who have worked for and demonstrated leadership in the local Urban Indigenous community, currently living in Lkwungen, W̱SÁNEĆ, Malahat, Scia’new and T’Sou-ke Territories.
Many Nations
Many Voices
Urban Indigenous people are an incredibly diverse group. No single person or group can speak for all Urban Indigenous people. You and your community know who you are, and what you need. The PUL Initiative is here to listen, build connections, and be a space for dialogue and relationship building.
PUL seeks opportunities to organize and centre all Indigenous voices in BC, while working to deepen our collective understanding towards the meaning of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in an urban Indigenous context.
Investing in Coalitions
In BC, no new laws can be passed without prior consultation1 and cooperation with the 290,200 Indigenous Peoples living in our province (66% First Nations, 34% Métis, 1% Inuit)2.
Yet 38% of Indigenous people living in BC have no formal mechanism to have their voices heard and represented3, despite the statutory requirement enshrined in law within BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
BC Urban Indigenous Coalitions offer an opportunity for Indigenous voices to be heard and shared. An investment in coalitions would offer engagement resources for more than 110,3284 people and add to the existing tools that government has to consult with members of the 202 BC First Nations5 (representing 145,337 people who live on and off reserve6), and 24,000 registered Métis7, through the First Nations Leadership Council and Métis Nation BC, respectively.
2023 Virtual Gathering
In 2023, over 50 urban Indigenous leaders gathered virtually to discuss what it means to be “urban Indigenous” and how communities want to organize to advocate for rights and needs. Results of the gathering showed the strong desire for in-person opportunities to gather as an urban community; continue to deepen understanding about the application of the Declaration Act and UNDRIP in urban settings; and work towards the formation of an urban Indigenous advisory committee as per Action 4.21 in BC’s Declaration Act Action Plan.
References
- Government of BC, 2019. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Available at: https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/19044
- Statistics Canada, 2021. Indigenous Population Profile, 2021 Census of Population. Profile Tables. Retrieved on Sept 18, 2023 from https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/ipp-ppa/index.cfm?Lang=E
- Indigenous people living in BC who identify as either First Nations from outside of BC (34,748), Inuit (1,720), and Métis people not registered with Métis Nation BC (73,860) have no formal mechanism in BC for organizing or representation. While 145,337 First Nations in BC are part of the BC Assembly of First Nations and 24,000 Métis people in BC are registered with Métis Nation BC, there is no other unified, collective representative body. (Source: Statistics Canada, 2021. Indigenous Population Profile, 2021 Census of Population. Profile Tables. Retrieved on Sept 18, 2023 from https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/ipp-ppa/index.cfm?Lang=E; MNBC, 2024. About MNBC. Retrieved on Apr 11, 2024 from: https://www.mnbc.ca/about-mnbc; BC Assembly of First Nations, 2024. First Nations in BC. Retrieved on April 11, 2024 from: https://www.bcafn.ca/first-nations-bc.)
- Statistics Canada, 2021. Indigenous Population Profile, 2021 Census of Population. Profile Tables. Retrieved on Sept 18, 2023 from https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/ipp-ppa/index.cfm?Lang=E
- https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1100100021003/1612465942223
- BC Assembly of First Nations, 2024. First Nations in BC. Retrieved on April 11, 2024 from: https://www.bcafn.ca/first-nations-bc
- MNBC, 2024. About MNBC. Retrieved on Apr 11, 2024 from: https://www.mnbc.ca/about-mnbc
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British Columbia is comprised of the traditional territories of many distinct First Nations. We are grateful to all the First Nations who have cared for and nurtured the lands and waters around us since time immemorial. We honour their right to be included in all matters related to their territories. We further recognize the Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous Peoples living in the territories who make valuable contributions to our collective wellness.