Declaration Act Action Plan

Section 4 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act) requires the Province to develop and implement an action plan to meet the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and to do so in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples.

The Declaration Act Action Plan, released on March 30, 2022, includes collectively identified goals and outcomes that form the long-term vision for implementing the UN Declaration in B.C. It also has 89 priority actions - tangible steps that will advance this work in key areas over the next five years.

The four main themes of the plan are to achieve align with achieving the objectives of the UN Declaration over time:

• Self-Determination and Inherent Right of Self-Government: Indigenous Peoples exercise and have full enjoyment of their rights to self-determination and self-government, including developing, maintaining and implementing their own institutions, laws, governing bodies, and political, economic and social structures related to Indigenous communities.

• Title and Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Indigenous Peoples exercise and have full enjoyment of their inherent rights, including the rights of First Nations to own, use, develop and control lands and resources within their territories in B.C. 

• Ending Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination: Indigenous Peoples fully express and exercise their distinct rights, and enjoy living in B.C. without interpersonal, systemic and institutional interference, oppression or other inequities associated with Indigenous-specific racism and discrimination, wherever they reside.

• Social, Cultural and Economic Well-Being: Indigenous Peoples in B.C. fully enjoy and exercise their distinct rights to maintain, control, develop, protect and transmit their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, languages, food systems, sciences and technologies. They are supported by initiatives that promote connection, development, access and improvement, as well as full participation in all aspects of B.C.’s economy. This includes a particular focus on ensuring the rights of Indigenous women, youth, Elders, children, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are upheld.

The actions themselves are tangible and measurable ways that the Province is advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples throughout B.C. in important areas like education, justice reform and natural resource management. Each ministry is working in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples to deliver on their specific actions. Download the plan.

The Province reports annually on progress made to implement the action plan and align provincial laws with the UN Declaration, which ensures the government’s work is transparent and accountable. The progress is reflected in the Declaration Act’s annual reports, which are publicly available by June 30 of each year. View past annual reports.