First Nations Relations

The CRD's Statement of Reconciliation was approved by the Board in 2018.

• Statement of Reconciliation [PDF/66KB]

The following report identifies areas of opportunity within the Capital Regional District's service structure to advance reconciliation through economic development.

• 2020 CRD First Nation Economic Development Partnership Model Feasibility Study Report [PDF/1.6MB]

At the October 10, 2018 meeting [PDF/91KB], the CRD Board approved a set of recommendations from the Final Report of the Special Task Force on First Nations Relations.

The Final Report provides a summary of activities and some lessons learned over the course of the Task Force’s four year term and presents eight recommendations for the Board’s consideration. The recommendations capture the Task Force’s view of optimal next steps to guide the CRD’s path towards a more inclusive governance model for the region.

• Final Report [PDF/4MB]

The Special Task Force was established in 2015 as a concrete step in demonstrating that government-to-government relationship-building is a priority focus of the Board. The final report was delivered in 2018 and an ongoing First Nations Relations Standing Committee was established in 2019.

The CRD Board, made up of representatives from the region's 13 municipalities and 3 Electoral Areas, has acknowledged that the lack of First Nations representation on the Board is a significant gap in regional governance. In an effort to "make the region whole", the CRD Board approved a number of bylaw changes to provide for the inclusion of First Nations elected representatives on CRD standing committees.

The CRD’s Government-to-Government Relationship Building Initiative was launched in 2023 to strengthen relationships with First Nations in the region, understand how each Nation would like to collaborate with the CRD, co-create mechanisms that support respectful engagement, and identify priority topics to inform the development of a CRD Reconciliation Action Plan. The Government-to-Government Relationship Building Initiative Summary Report [PDF/722KB] identifies the key themes heard in the feedback from First Nations and makes recommendations to inform the CRD’s next steps. 

Building on prior recommendations, the CRD retained a consultant in 2022 to:

• learn how First Nations and Indigenous organizations in the capital region would like to be engaged on employment initiatives,
• assess CRD readiness to collaborate on employment partnerships and initiatives with Indigenous partners, and
• research and report on wise practices related to Indigenous employment and workplace cultural safety.

These three reports are the outcome of the project and contain recommendations for how the CRD can become a more desirable workplace for prospective Indigenous employees.

• Indigenous Employment Project Summary Report [PDF/7.7MB]
  This report provides a high-level summary of findings and recommendations.
• Indigenous Employment Project Findings and Recommendations [PDF/9.7MB]
  This report contains the full findings, including wise practices for Indigenous employment in the context of the CRD.
• Indigenous Employment Project Wise Practices Indigenous Employment and Culturally Safe and Supportive Workplaces [PDF/1.2MB]
  This is a stand-alone report that has been made available as a resource for Indigenous communities and employers in the region.

The CRD and paaʔčiidʔatx̣ (Pacheedaht) First Nation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2024, formalizing their government-to-government relationship.

• Pacheedaht First Nation – CRD Memorandum of Understanding

The Special Task Force recommended an Annual Forum of All Councils to build relationships between First Nations and local governments. On June 11, 2016 at the First Peoples House at UVic, a Forum of Councils was held with a special focus on Indigenous cultural acumen training. Forums were also held in 2019 and 2023.

• 2016 Event Video
• 2019 Forum of All Councils Summary Report [PDF/411KB]
• 2023 Forum of All Councils Summary Report [PDF/637KB]

The CRD provides a diverse range of over 200 services to member municipalities and First Nations governments. Types of service agreements the CRD has with First Nations range from water provision, wastewater treatment, fire protection, building inspection and animal control. The CRD seeks to ensure that any services contracted to First Nations are accountable, equitable and consistently delivered.