The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District is committed to building meaningful, respectful and enduring relationships with Indigenous Peoples and First Nations as we continue to learn, unlearn, understand and navigate our responsibilities on this shared reconciliation journey.
In 2016, the SLRD Board became a Regional District of Reconciliation. That commitment recognizes that reconciliation is a long-term process of rebuilding trust and strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities.
On October 22, 2025, the SLRD Board endorsed “Truth & Reconciliation: In Practice – A Guide for Working in a Good way.” Led by the SLRD and developed by Gwen Bridge Consulting, the Guide articulates the organization’s vision for and commitment to the work, and also sets the stage for practical implementation. Once approved by the SLRD Board, the Guide will be used by the Board and staff to direct their work moving forward.
Find answers to common questions about truth and reconciliation at the SLRD and how the Guide is used in practice. We will add to this section over time as new questions come up. Have a question that isn't answered here? Please email our Indigenous Relations Advisor at info@slrd.bc.ca.
A: Strengthening relationships with First Nations and Indigenous communities is a strategic priority of the SLRD Board. The SLRD created and published the Guide to turn the 2016 commitment to be a Regional District of Reconciliation into day-to-day practice. The Guide gives staff and the Board a clear, shared lens for applying reconciliation to decisions, relationships and communications. It also makes this approach transparent to the public.
A: Reconciliation is an ongoing process of building and maintaining respectful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, grounded in truth-telling, acknowledgment of harm, recognition of rights, and concrete actions that lead to real change.
A: UNDRIP refers to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. It provides guidance on how governments should recognize Indigenous rights and title and build relationships grounded in free, prior, and informed consent. It was developed as a result of the International Indigenous community advocating for the affirmation of their rights in the wake of colonial displacement, environmental degradation and other harms to Indigenous populations worldwide.
A: Legal pluralism means more than one legal system operates in the same place at the same time. We already live in a legally pluralistic society: Canada has federal, provincial and local laws that residents live within every day. In BC, this also includes Indigenous legal orders. Recognizing legal pluralism means the SLRD considers these systems together and works respectfully with Indigenous laws and protocols alongside provincial and Canadian law, within our mandate.
A: In the future, Board reports will include a “Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenous Relations” section. In this section, staff will identify opportunities for engagement with Indigenous partners, consider Indigenous rights, reference the parts of the Guide considered, and explain how the Guide informed recommendations and decisions.
Residents will also be able to follow this work through published Board agendas and minutes, public updates, and an online dashboard that will summarize key milestones for truth & reconciliation, including agreements, engagement sessions, training delivered, and priority actions advanced that support this work.
A: The SLRD led the work with Gwen Bridge Consulting, an Indigenous-owned consulting firm. It was informed by engagement with First Nations whose core territories the SLRD operates on, as well as Board and staff input. We also received feedback from the CAOs of member municipalities.
A: No. The Guide is an SLRD document that explains how we show up in a good way. We do not speak for Nations. The Guide was informed by engagement, and we will continue to seek direction, guidance and collaboration from Nations so it can evolve.
A: Staff will reference the Guide in reports, inform how we engage with Nations, and build capacity through learning and clearer processes. In the future, residents will start to see reconciliation considerations noted in public materials.
A: Work will be managed within existing departmental budgets where possible, with targeted investments for training, engagement and communications as needed and approved by the Board.
A: No, not at this time. Planning and development processes will remain the same as the SLRD continues to follow provincial legislation and guidance concerning land use planning. We want to develop pathways for collaboration and dialogue, and moving forward, the SLRD will consider Indigenous rights and interests in their work and decisions. The Guide explains how reconciliation considerations are identified and addressed within those existing rules.
A: The Board has final say for decisions made at the SLRD. The Guide aims to improve transparency by showing how reconciliation and Indigenous rights and interests were considered in the decision-making process, reflecting the commitments the Board has endorsed.
A: Residents can download and read the Truth & Reconciliation: In Practice Guide on the SLRD website follow Board agendas and minutes, and share feedback with the SLRD through contact details listed on our website. We will share updates and opportunities for engagement or learning opportunities as they come together in the future.
A: Decolonization once viewed as the formal process of handing over the instruments of government, is now recognized as a long-term process involving the bureaucratic, cultural, linguistic and psychological divesting of colonial power. Decolonization offers a pathway to revitalize Indigenous cultures by supporting the resurgence of Indigenous knowledge that has been impacted by colonization.
A: Indigenization focuses on incorporating Indigenous perspectives, values, and practices into an organization, through promoting legal pluralism and fostering collaborative relationships. It emphasizes collaboration and the integration of Indigenous knowledge and practices. Indigenization aligns with the concept of Ethical Space, where distinct and equal governing bodies come together to create shared decisions fostered on mutual respect and understanding.
