Project Summary N-122: Indigenous engagement requirements
Compliance with the Emergency and Disaster Management Act requiring engagement with Indigenous Governing Bodies.
Project Summary
Priority: Strategic
Public Engagement: Not applicable
Project Name: Indigenous engagement requirements
Project Code: 1-2-02300-310 CC230-08
Submitted by: Troy D. Mollin
Director: Paul Hurst, Emergency Program
Executive Summary
Under the new Emergency and Disaster Management Act (EDMA), municipalities and regional districts are required to engage Indigenous Governing Bodies regarding their territory or treaty area and any adjacent treaty lands.
Business problem and opportunity
View Royal received $48,000 and is at risk of losing part or all the funding if it is underutilized.
Proposed project objectives
- Provide funding into a regional pool to coordinate efforts focused on relationship building, consultation, capacity building, and/or agreement building with First Nations.
- Provide local emergency management training with ToVR staff and both Nations together.
- Fund Indigenous Cultural Safety training for ToVR staff in 2026.
- Contribute scholarship funding to Songhees and Esquimalt Nations for formal EM education to their chosen community members, leading to a certificate, diploma or degree (administered by the Nations)
Business risks
Unused provincial funding will be lost and opportunities to improve engagement and relationships with our indigenous neighbours in the region will be diminished.
Proposed sources of funding
$48,000 front loaded grant from EMCR (already issued to the Town in 2025).
Costs and benefits
| Costs | FY1 | FY2 | FY3 | FY4 | FY5 | 5-year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Operational | 48,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48,000 |
| Total | 48,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48,000 |
Benefits
- Tangible:
- Intangible:
Recommendation
THAT the Committee recommend the 2026-2030 Financial Plan include Indigenous engagement requirements in 2026 to be funded by the Province of BC’s Indigenous Engagement Requirements grant.
Additional Information
This work is necessary to:
- Build and/or nurture relationships to obtain free, prior, and informed consent, consistent with the UN Declaration Rights of Indigenous People.
- Plan for consultation and cooperation that is required to take place during the response and recovery phases of an emergency (including when a municipality or regional district plans to use certain land-based response or recovery powers).
- Plan to update Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (once regulations are released) to include specific consideration of people who may be disproportionately impacted by emergencies such as Indigenous people, incorporate available Indigenous knowledge, and integrate measures within emergency management plans to promote cultural safety.
Business problem and opportunity
- The introduction of EDMA brings with it the requirement for municipalities to engage with First Nations partners regarding matters of emergency management that affect both parties.
- Recognizing the challenges of these new requirements, the Province has provided funding to all local authorities and First Nations to help meet them. View Royal received $48,000 and is at risk of losing part or all the funding if it is underutilized.
- The challenge for View Royal is we have a well-established relationship with Kosapsum and Songhees Nations who also pay the Town a fee for service for Fire and Emergency Management which complicates the use of this funding and challenges us to be creative in how to responsibly and effectively utilize the funds in a way that meets the intent of the program.
Proposed project objectives (expanded)
- Provide funding into a regional pool to coordinate efforts focused on relationship building, consultation, capacity building, and/or agreement building with First Nations. Pooled funding may be used to: a. Provide Cultural Safety Training to Emergency Management staff; b. Develop a framework intended to meet the Indigenous Engagement Requirements in EDMA; and c. Hire a suitable contractor to engage with First Nations and local government representatives through in person workshops. The outcome will result in a comprehensive report with recommendations of actions which contribute to disaster risk reduction through all phases of emergency management (planning, mitigation, response, and recovery) for Indigenous Governing Bodies.
- Provide local emergency management training with ToVR staff and both Nations together.
- Fund Indigenous Cultural Safety training for ToVR staff in 2025.
- In consultation with both Nations bolster emergency supplies held on Nations lands.
- Contribute funding towards a full or part time EM liaison to the Nations.