UNITED NATIONS DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Minister Donaldson wrote in a January 8th 2018 letter to FESBC Chair Wayne Clogg:
“To support true and lasting reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, our government is fully adopting and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Please ensure that going forward your organization incorporates the UNDRIP and TRC, given the specific mandate and context of your organization”.
FESBC endorses the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its calls to action as well as the implementation of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Up to 2018, 30% of the projects funded by FESBC are led by First Nations proponents or have significant First Nations participation (49 projects valued at $44 million). This is not surprising given that both First Nations and FESBC have a great interest in the enhancement of BC’s Crown forests.