Partnership and Indigenous Engagement

The Partnership and Indigenous Engagement division works collaboratively and respectfully with First Nations and Métis Peoples and communities to find a new path forward to overcome existing systemic barriers. In partnership, the division affirms and upholds Indigenous peoples’ ability to exercise their inherent rights, jurisdiction and self-governance over their children and families.

Aligned to the work of the division, on August 31, 2021 Minister Dean sent this Letter of Commitment to the First Nations Leadership Council, which commits us to actively engage and co-develop policy and legislation changes with the FNLC and with Indigenous rights holders. See supporting infographic.

Additionally, the division’s ongoing focus is providing support and guidance to each Indigenous community as they work towards exercising authority and jurisdiction over child and family services. This may include creating shared workplans, collaborating with partners from across the provincial and federal governments, developing agreements to formalize relationships and supporting efforts to address service delivery issues affecting Indigenous children, families and communities.

The division's work directly supports the goal of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) to engage with Indigenous peoples and partners to reform the child welfare system by addressing the root causes of the over-representation of Indigenous children and youth in government care. This work is guided by the:

• Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Canadian Human Rights Tribunal findings
• B.C. report on Indigenous child welfare, Indigenous Resilience, Connectedness and Reunification – From Root Causes to Root Solutions
• Calls for Justice related to social workers and those implicated in child welfare from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• Spirit and values of MCFD’s Aboriginal Policy and Practice Framework

Highlights of Work in Progress

The province through MCFD is working with individual First Nations, Indigenous communities and Canada (Crown-Indigenous Relations & Northern Affairs and Indigenous Services) to sign various types of agreements that will see the nations exercise their jurisdiction and increased authority over child and family services. B.C. also has a similar agreement with Métis Nation British Columbia. Examples of the type of agreements and other actions underway are described below.

Coordination Agreements

The federal legislation An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (federal Act) came into force in January 2020. The federal Act affirms the inherent right and jurisdiction of Indigenous peoples in relation to child and family services.

The federal Act enables Indigenous Governing Bodies (IGBs) to enter into coordination agreements with the federal and provincial governments to support the exercise of their legislative authority.

These agreements must include the provision of emergency services, support measures for Indigenous children to exercise their rights, fiscal arrangements, and any other coordination measures related to the exercise of jurisdiction. The ministry’s Indigenous Engagement Branch (IEB) is currently participating with ISC and Indigenous Governing Bodies at five tripartite coordination agreement tables:

Indigenous Partnership & Agreements team provides support to:

• Delegated Service Agreements with 24 Indigenous Child and Family Service Agencies
• Agreements to Provide Information to Indigenous Communities
• Section 92.1 Community Agreements with Indigenous Communities
• MCFD’s Repository of Agreements

Intergovernmental Relations

Partnership and Indigenous Engagement also houses the Intergovernmental Relations Team (IGR), which supports MCFD's relations with other governments. This work involves negotiations with federal, provincial and territorial governments on policies and issues related to children and families.

IGR advances the ministry’s priorities at intergovernmental tables for social services and maintains relationships with provincial and territorial governments to inform each other’s work, best practices and research. IGR also has working relationships with federal officials in Ottawa and monitors national policy and budget statements to determine if there are opportunities for investments in MCFD’s priority areas.

IGR offers analysis and advice, supports the minister and assists the Premier’s Office when meetings or forums of federal, provincial and territorial leaders address issues related to children and families.