Vision
We, the first peoples of the lands, assert our inherent Title, Rights, and jurisdiction to lead the response to the climate crisis. We exercise our knowledge, laws, and processes in our self-determined ways to care for the Earth and ensure health and stability for future generations.
Youth Vision Statements
“We, First Nations youth, are the stewards of our lands, the lands we have cared for since time immemorial. We are advocates for education, sustainable production and economies, and the care and protection of the Earth.”
Coastal Region (FNLC Youth Engagement Session)
“We practice sustainable living to provide for the people and the Earth. We hunt, harvest, and use our language, so our knowledge is not lost. Through a holistic approach, we understand our relationship with the lands, waters, and all beings.”
Interior Region (FNLC Youth Engagement Session)
“We have our land back. We have re-established access and management of our lands and resources. We can respond to climate change through a First Nations-led and inclusive approach, reclamation work and long-term planning and investing in opportunities for clean energy.”
Northern Region (FNLC Youth Engagement Session)
Guiding principles
Respect and recognize the assertion of First Nations’ inherent jurisdiction over their traditional territories and their right to self-determination and self-government in climate action.
Before settler arrival, First Nations in BC lived with their individual laws, territories, and thriving economies and societies. For thousands of years, they have effectively protected and cared for the land, water, air, and resources. However, assumed Crown sovereignty and colonial laws have restricted and disregarded their inherent sovereignty to uphold their responsibilities to the Earth. First Nations’ assertion of their inherent Title over their territories and the right to self-determination and self-government must be. The Crown and other colonial entities must recognize and respect First Nations’ Title, Rights, Treaty Rights, and hereditary and elected leadership systems and fully implement the UN Declaration in the climate context.
Protect First Nations’ culture, values, and identity, including each Nation’s knowledge, laws, and languages, as essential to responding to the climate emergency.
Colonial laws, policies, and practices have intentionally destroyed First Nations’ cultural identity and ability to use, protect, and share their laws, languages, and worldviews. Climate change further threatens their identity and ways of being and knowing. It is essential to facilitate intergenerational knowledge sharing to prepare future leaders to thrive in the face of the climate crisis. All must acknowledge the importance of including Indigenous cultural and ecological knowledge to combat climate change. The strength of this knowledge must be recognized and implemented alongside scientific understandings in developing climate strategies and actions. Western science provides the data to support confidence in knowing what has happened and what is expected moving forward. Indigenous Knowledge provides the innate understanding of the connection between the land, water, and life and the mindset of respect and stewardship for the Earth.
Exercise reciprocity restoration and collaboration with the lands, waters, and environment in maintaining ecosystem health and stability for generations to come.
We all have a collective responsibility to recognize the climate emergency with an urgency to act immediately and in the long term to maintain the integrity and functionality of the environment. This includes helping to reduce global GHG emissions at all levels. It is vital to consider reciprocity, restoration, cooperation, and collaboration with the Earth to ensure ecosystem health and stability. Instilling values promoting genuine respect for the Earth is one simple way to make consistent positive change. Stewardship must be conducted through a holistic and preventative approach incorporating First Nations’ knowledge and laws.
Collaborate and develop true partnerships between First Nations and Crown governments, the private sector, organizations, institutions, Indigenous Peoples, and society to address the climate emergency effectively.
Climate change is an urgent threat transcending jurisdictional boundaries, making collaboration and partnership essential. Collaboration and true partnerships between First Nations in BC and all other entities must exist. As inherent Title and Rights holders, individuals and groups must come to the table ready to recognize First Nations’ inherent jurisdiction to care for their territories. Free, Prior, and Informed Consent must be attained from each individual and community in climate response, planning, and project development. Past and present harms of colonization must be acknowledged and addressed as an essential component of developing accountable relations for climate action. An intersectional lens that considers the significant roles and experiences of First Nations Elders, youth, women and members of the 2SLGBQQIA+ community must be adopted to highlight diverse ways to relate to and be responsible for the environment.
Build capacity and self-sufficiency within First Nations communities to strengthen resiliency while preparing and empowering future generations for projected climate impacts.
Despite the impacts of the legacies of colonization and ongoing colonial practices, First Nations are climate leaders who have effectively responded to climate change over thousands of years. However, the impacts of the changing climate will be stronger and more frequent. First Nations will continue to face the effects at a higher rate than any other group in Canada. Nations must strengthen their capacity, build climate resiliency, and empower future generations to respond effectively.