UNDRIP Strategy - Indigenous engagement

Share UNDRIP Strategy - Indigenous engagement on Facebook Share UNDRIP Strategy - Indigenous engagement on Twitter Share UNDRIP Strategy - Indigenous engagement on Linkedin Email UNDRIP Strategy - Indigenous engagement link
Indigenous City staff standing at the front of the room with Indigenous attendees sitting around tables

We are in the creation mode of the UNDRIP Engagement Framework. The Draft UNDRIP Strategy Engagement Summary is based on previous workshops and engagements and will help us develop the Framework moving forward.

Updates on the process so far:

We invited Indigenous people who live or work in Vancouver to join us to learn more about the City of Vancouver's United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Strategy, and to share thoughts on how the Strategy and its Calls to Action can better reflect the needs and rights of Indigenous people in Vancouver. Below is a list of past workshops and engagements.

Next Steps:

  • Continue engaging with urban Indigenous community members
  • Report back to the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and urban Indigenous community members
  • Share the engagement findings with all City of Vancouver departments

  • Develop an Indigenous Engagement Framework based on the feedback received

To learn more, you can:

Background:

Vancouver has the second largest urban Indigenous population in Canada. Urban Indigenous people also have important rights and experience ongoing impacts from colonialism. The work to implement UNDRIP within Vancouver, is being done with care to strengthen the government-to-government relationship and respect the protocols of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) as Aboriginal title holders, while continuing to build relationships with diverse Urban Indigenous communities.

An engagement approach based on supporting solidarity among xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and urban Indigenous people is taking shape. It will be important to work with urban Indigenous leadership and bring together Urban Indigenous communities to address the priorities of Urban Indigenous people, and make sure that their voices are included.

We acknowledge that what is known as the City of Vancouver is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).


Siwash Rock in Stanley Park at sunsetSiwash Rock, Stanley Park


We are in the creation mode of the UNDRIP Engagement Framework. The Draft UNDRIP Strategy Engagement Summary is based on previous workshops and engagements and will help us develop the Framework moving forward.

Updates on the process so far:

We invited Indigenous people who live or work in Vancouver to join us to learn more about the City of Vancouver's United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Strategy, and to share thoughts on how the Strategy and its Calls to Action can better reflect the needs and rights of Indigenous people in Vancouver. Below is a list of past workshops and engagements.

Next Steps:

  • Continue engaging with urban Indigenous community members
  • Report back to the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and urban Indigenous community members
  • Share the engagement findings with all City of Vancouver departments

  • Develop an Indigenous Engagement Framework based on the feedback received

To learn more, you can:

Background:

Vancouver has the second largest urban Indigenous population in Canada. Urban Indigenous people also have important rights and experience ongoing impacts from colonialism. The work to implement UNDRIP within Vancouver, is being done with care to strengthen the government-to-government relationship and respect the protocols of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) as Aboriginal title holders, while continuing to build relationships with diverse Urban Indigenous communities.

An engagement approach based on supporting solidarity among xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) and urban Indigenous people is taking shape. It will be important to work with urban Indigenous leadership and bring together Urban Indigenous communities to address the priorities of Urban Indigenous people, and make sure that their voices are included.

We acknowledge that what is known as the City of Vancouver is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).


Siwash Rock in Stanley Park at sunsetSiwash Rock, Stanley Park


  • Why UNDRIP matters and the impacts it will have

    Share Why UNDRIP matters and the impacts it will have on Facebook Share Why UNDRIP matters and the impacts it will have on Twitter Share Why UNDRIP matters and the impacts it will have on Linkedin Email Why UNDRIP matters and the impacts it will have link

    In June 2024, the City of Vancouver became the first municipality in Canada to put the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) into action. One year later, Vancouver City Council, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) reaffirm their joint commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Action Plan.

    This 5-year plan is the most significant and in-depth collaboration we’ve achieved, with staff and partners working together to move Reconciliation forward in a meaningful, measurable way.

    Here, representatives across all four governments share what UNDRIP means to them and what they hope its impact will be for this, and future, generations.

    More info: vancouver.ca/undrip



  • City of Vancouver UNDRIP Timeline

    Share City of Vancouver UNDRIP Timeline on Facebook Share City of Vancouver UNDRIP Timeline on Twitter Share City of Vancouver UNDRIP Timeline on Linkedin Email City of Vancouver UNDRIP Timeline link
    • In 2021, UIPAC submitted a formal letter to the City requesting improved engagement with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, and səlilwətaɬ, urban Indigenous Peoples and the advisory, among other key issues. To increase public pressure, UIPAC also shared the letter with the media.
    • 2021 Council voted to appoint an intergovernmental MSTV Task Force to develop the Vancouver UNDRIP Strategy, which was approved in 2022. . The strategy identified several calls for action that specifically included the diverse Indigenous Peoples in Vancouver’s priorities and highlighted the City’s responsibility towards providing services and opportunities for them
    • 2022 the City hired the first Senior Director, Indigenous Relations to start an Indigenous Relations Department.
    • 2023 Senior Manager, Urban Indigenous Relations added to the Indigenous Relations team.
    • 2023 Engagements with the diverse Indigenous Peoples in Vancouver began with 2 online and 2 in person engagements, as well as a Final Summit in Spring of 2024.
    • 2024 Pilot of the Engagement Framework Guiding Principles and Engagement Fair which included 11 City projects.
    • 2025 Draft Engagement Framework complete


    Learn more UNDRIP Task Force | City of Vancouver

Page last updated: 23 Sep 2025, 11:28 AM