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Loyal Wooldridge, Regional Board Chair, Dr. Tim Raybould, JWR Business Group, and Jordan Coble, RDCO Director and WFN Councillor, at the Community-to-Community Forum in September 2023.
Together, Westbank First Nation (WFN) and the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO), with support from the Province, have taken an important first step on the path toward a more inclusive form of governance for the region.
"In pursuit of a more inclusive and collaborative regional governance, WFN and the RDCO are forging a path towards reconciliation,” says WFN Chief Robert Louie. “WFN has developed one of the most comprehensive sets of community laws and one of the most advanced systems of participatory democracy in Canada, and together with RDCO, we now wish to see our participation at the regional level improved. As we embark on this groundbreaking journey, we are committed to working together to formalize WFN’s role at the Regional Board table, if that is deemed best. This collaborative initiative exemplifies RDCO’s commitment towards reconciliation and exploring the advancement of Indigenous participation at the regional board level."
During the board meeting on Thursday, January 25, the Regional Board was presented with a comprehensive discussion paper on the RDCO/WFN Inclusive Regional Governance Initiative, to explore models for inclusive regional governance. The discussion paper, created by JWR Business Group in collaboration with key staff at the RDCO and WFN, outlines five potential models, including the prospect of WFN becoming a full voting participant on the Regional Board.
Westbank First Nation is unable to vote at the Regional Board because of current provincial legislation. Existing legislation requires nations to have a treaty with the province to fully participate in regional governments. Westbank First Nation is a self-governing nation and does not have a treaty, nor are they seeking a treaty, with the province.
The purpose of this initiative is to explore a more inclusive form of governance that balances Indigenous peoples right to participate in decisions that impact them – like those made at the Regional Board table - while still maintaining First Nation decision-making structures and institutions.
“The RDCO has an opportunity to advance reconciliation by reshaping local government systems that exist due to colonial practices,” says Loyal Wooldridge, Chair of the Regional Board. “We recognize the importance of forging strong government-to-government relations, grounded in trust and truth, that enable this groundbreaking work. The Board is committed to working in partnership with WFN to find a regional governance solution that supports syilx / Okanagan people's right to participate in decisions impacting them while also upholding their governance structure.”
This initiative was made possible by the $45,000 Restructure Planning Grant program, given to the RDCO and five other regional districts by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs in alignment with the Province’s commitment to the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Moving forward, the RDCO and WFN will meet with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and senior leaders and elected officials within their respective governments to consider a shared path forward.
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