Local government and First Nations engagement

Engagement by local governments, at both the local and regional levels, can help build relationships with First Nations, benefit communities and enhance reconciliation.

Local government and First Nations engagement is part of a government-to-government relationship.  Engagement can happen on a broad range of mutual interests including land use, economic development, services and infrastructure, or to simply bring community leaders together for the first time or to renew an existing relationship. 

Many local governments and First Nations have developed service agreements, protocol agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) to achieve mutual interests through engagement.

Positive engagement between local governments and First Nations can also facilitate stronger relationships, open dialogue, and improved shared understanding between communities to promote reconciliation and build a foundation for future collaboration.

Local government engagement with First Nations differs with the Province‘s constitutional duty to consult on potential impacts to First Nations’ interests. However, engagement is a method of exploring opportunities for cooperation and collaboration between local governments and First Nations building positive relationships, and furthering the goal of reconciliation.

Engagement can also help facilitate the timely processing of local government requests for Provincial statutory approval of:

• Municipal and regional district boundary changes and restructures under the Local Government Act
• Islands Trust official community plan bylaws and certain zoning bylaws under the Islands Trust Act
• Sun Peaks Mountain Resort official community plan bylaws as required by Letters Patent.

Learn more about engagement between local governments and First Nations:

• Guide to First Nations Engagement on Local Government Statutory Approvals (Interim) (PDF. 280KB)
• Visit UBCM to learn more about the Community to Community Program for Local Government and First Nations
• CivicInfo BC | Library - Joint Indigenous and Local Government Initiatives and Relations