Working Together with BC’s Indigenous Peoples
Destination BC was recently invited to participate in the K’tunaxa Nation branding initiative alongside many local industry stakeholders in tourism, heritage, transportation, parks, and Indigenous economic development. The goal of the gathering on October 22nd was to start a conversation centred around working together to strengthen recognition of the K’tunaxa homelands and to help introduce the nation’s story to travellers and locals. In addition to a good group discussion about priorities and tangible actions, the collective desire in the room to understand the K’tunaxa goals and to contribute meaningfully to their progress was inspiring. This was true among DMOs, museums, visitor centres, airlines and government ministries.
The linkages between the province’s Destination Development strategies for the Kootenay Rockies region, and the initiatives identified by the assembled group further validated the extensive consultations Destination BC undertook to develop those strategies. On the basis of this conversation, very specific on-the-ground next steps were suggested that will form part of the future K’tunaxa Branding Initiative plan.
Groundbreaking legislation introduced by the Provincial Government on October 24, 2019, creates a path forward to recognize and uphold the human rights of Indigenous peoples in BC. If passed, the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act will make British Columbia the first province to bring the internationally recognized standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) into provincial law. Developed in collaboration with the First Nations Leadership Council at the direction of First Nations, this legislation creates a framework for reconciliation in BC, in keeping with the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
We are excited about Destination BC’s future contribution to Canada’s commitments from the Truth and Reconciliation (TRC) process and to the articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which BC and Canada have adopted. We are already recognized in Canada for our progressive work with Indigenous Tourism BC (ITBC), which goes back 20 years. Looking ahead, we know the tourism industry will be able to meaningfully contribute to recognition and reconciliation in our country.
