Settlement agreement reached for Band class litigation

On January 21, 2023, the Government of Canada signed an agreement with Representative Plaintiffs who represent 325 bands that opted into the Band class litigation. Through this settlement, Canada is committed to addressing the collective harm caused by the residential schools system. Canada will provide $2.8 billion to be placed in a not-for-profit trust to support healing, wellness, education, heritage, language, and commemoration activities.

Jordan’s Principle group request guide now available: apply for group request funding!

• Jordan’s Principle is a needs-based initiative that provides funding to First Nations children and youth to access the products, services and supports they need, when they need them, regardless of whether they live on or off reserve.
• Communities can submit a group request for funding to provide needed products, services and supports to a group of First Nations children from multiple families or guardians.
• A guide to requesting funding for Jordan’s Principle group requests is now available.
• A Jordan’s Principle group or community managed request can be submitted by:
  • a parent or guardian of First Nations or Indigenous children who ordinarily reside on reserve;
  • a community or Tribal Council;
  • a community organization or institution; or,
  • a service coordinator, navigator or case manager.
• For help with group requests, please contact a Jordan’s Principle Service Coordinator in your region. For a regional contact list or to download a copy of the BC Region Group Request Package, please visit: https://www.jordansprinciplehubbc.ca.
• To submit a request under Jordan’s Principle in BC, or for more information, please contact Indigenous Services Canada-Jordan’s Principle BC Region by telephone at 778-951-0716 or by fax at 604-775-7149. Completed requests can also be submitted to: principedejordancb-cjordansprinciple@sac-isc.gc.ca.

Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) Six Mile/Bradley & Irish Creek/Head of the Lake Water Systems improvement project

Check out this video from OKIB highlighting their newly completed water project which resulted in a targeted water quality advisory being lifted. It also increased water storage capacity in the community to provide for sufficient firefighting supply. The use of an Integrated Project Delivery model enabled OKIB, ISC and other project partners to complete this project at a guaranteed cost and a year faster than compared to the traditional “design-bid-build” approach. Contact Ted Molyneux, Senior Engineer, with ISC’s Community Infrastructure Branch to find out if your next project could also benefit from this approach.

If you have any success stories or best practices from your community that you would like to see highlighted in this ISC BC Region Update, please send them to Hazel Desharnais, Communications Manager, at hazel.desharnais2@sac-isc.gc.ca.

Grants and Contribution Information Management Systems

Did you know First Nations can submit proposals and reporting submissions directly to ISC through the Grants and Contribution Information Management Systems (GCIMS), and that it is the recommended submission method for all non-Education reports? GCIMS provides access to funding agreements for up-to-date financial information and reporting requirements. It can also be used to generate system reports for program and budget analysis.

Contact your Funding Services Officer for GCIMS access or training anytime between April and November 2023. Please see the attachment to see which FSO your community is working with.

More people are now entitled to register under the Indian Act

If you have a parent, grandparent or ancestor who was affected by sex-based inequities in the Indian Act, you may now be entitled to register. When an entitled woman married a non-entitled man before 1985, she lost her right to registration. That loss also affected her descendants’ rights to registration. Bill S-3 was introduced in an effort to address the impacts of this loss of status for all affected descendants. Please share this poster with your community to help increase awareness of the changes. More information is also available on the ISC website or by emailing aadnc.engagementinscriptionpn-fnregistrationengagement.aandc@canada.ca.

2023 National First Nations Water Leadership Award

Nominations for the 2023 National First Nations Water Leadership Award are now open until March 31, 2023. The annual National First Nations Water Leadership Award recognizes First Nations individuals or organizations that have demonstrated leadership and outstanding dedication to the advancement of clean and safe drinking water in First Nations communities. The winner will receive a trophy and a $500 art piece. Also, $10,000 in bursaries will be awarded in the winner's name to First Nation applicants who are pursuing or furthering their careers in the water and wastewater industry.

For eligibility requirements, the nomination form, or more information on the Award, including last year’s nominees, please visit the National First Nations Water Leadership Award webpage.

Professional Lands Management Certification Program 2023-24

Training to become a certified First Nations land manager or officer is available through the Professional Lands Management Certification Program (PLMCP). The PLMCP is a two-year program that includes post-secondary courses and specialized technical training modules delivered by the National Aboriginal Lands Managers Association (NALMA). For information about ISC funding and the 2023-24 spring intake, please contact the ISC regional office at 1-800-665-9320 or email RLEMP@sac-isc.gc.ca.

Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative

The Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative provides $103.8 million over 5 years to assist First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities and partners, both on and off-reserve, to implement Indigenous-designed projects to improve community safety and well-being. This initiative supports projects which: recognize the importance of traditional knowledge and practices to contributing to greater community safety and well-being, recognize holistic models of community safety and well-being, and address existing and emerging needs relating to the safety and well-being of Indigenous women and girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. There is no deadline for this funding.

Canada Cultural Spaces Fund

The Canada Cultural Spaces Fund (CCSF) supports the improvement of physical conditions for arts, heritage, culture and creative innovation. The Fund supports renovation and construction projects, the acquisition of specialized equipment and feasibility studies related to cultural spaces. The CCSF annual grants and contributions budget is $54 million for the period 2018-2028. The CCSF receives applications on an ongoing basis.

In-person service for registration and status cards

ISC BC Region’s Registration and Status Card Service Counter at 1138 Melville Street in Vancouver continues to offer appointments for service, which can be made by calling (236) 330-9961. Hours for the Service Counter are Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are also welcome and are served between appointments.