Aboriginal & Government Relations Progress

Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C.

“The New Relationship has fostered a climate of collaboration that I believe is unprecedented, certainly in this province, but also in Canada.” As president of the Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia, Brenda Baptiste is working with government to develop and implement a multi-year strategy to grow Aboriginal tourism.  Based on her experiences, she has a lot of good things to say about the New Relationship.

“There seems to be, for the first time, an almost open-door policy when dealing with Aboriginal issues,” says Baptiste. “How great is that? When we’ve had a concern or an issue in First Nations communities or with the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C., we’ve really benefited by having access to ministers who make decisions, and having a dialogue in terms of how we deal with issues that will create mutual benefits for the whole province.”

Impressed by how involved the Province is, Baptiste points out the marked difference in the way things used to be and the way they are now. “The Deputy Minister of Tourism sits on our committee. I’ve been around for a long time, and I’ve never seen that. When I think about that level of engagement, it’s very, very cool. Not only did the Province resource the development of the plan, but it is supporting that process and participating in implementation. Just think about that for a minute. A few years ago, when I was growing up, it was an era of confrontation and fights. Think about that era and this era. It really is night and day.”

Métis Nation B.C.

As a senator for the Métis Nation BC (MNBC) for two years, Al Edkins has seen many changes. When he first took on the voluntary role, MNBC didn’t have the resources to finance committees, Senate sittings, or to send Edkins to regional meetings. “Predominantly our communications were by word-of-mouth. Even long distance phone calls were too expensive to make.”

In May 2006, the provincial government signed the Métis Nation Relationship Accord, giving the Métis Nation BC additional resources for the organization and its day-to-day operations. “We now receive annual funding from the provincial government, which allows us, for the first time, to submit fiscally responsible budgets to help cover the costs of Métis Nation BC Senate business,” Edkins says. “Being able to meet and work together meant the Senate could draft its own protocols, policies and procedures, code of ethics and bring the Senate Act up to date.”

Edkins says the improved rapport between the Province and MNBC is a direct result of the Métis Nation Relationship Accord. “The attitudes that really stand out to me are tolerance and respect. With those two particular mindsets established, the Province has respected our culture and traditions, and has begun the process of allowing us to progress into the future.”