Indigenous Engagement

The IEP was created to ensure Indigenous rights, Traditional Knowledge, and cultural protocols are respected across all flood recovery and resilience work.

It goes beyond legal requirements to reflect the City’s moral commitment to reconciliation.

Indigenous engagement is crucial in British Columbia, especially given the province’s unique history, geography, and legal landscape. BC is home to a diverse range of Indigenous Nations with deeply rooted connections to their lands, cultures, and communities. Many of the lands where construction projects take place are unceded, meaning Indigenous rights to these lands were never formally surrendered or extinguished through treaties. This adds an additional layer of responsibility for municipalities and other project leaders to engage with Indigenous communities.

Indigenous peoples have inherent rights, including the right to self-determination, control over their lands, and protection of their cultural practices. Engaging Indigenous communities helps ensure these rights are respected and upheld, in alignment with national and international standards like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which BC has committed to implementing.

Engaging early and meaningfully with Indigenous communities helps foster strong relationships based on trust and respect. This can help avoid conflicts, delays, or misunderstandings during the project and create long-term partnerships that benefit both parties.

Indigenous communities offer valuable insights into local ecosystems, cultural practices, and sustainable resource management. Their input can help improve the social, environmental, and economic outcomes of construction projects, leading to more responsible and well-rounded developments.

By integrating Indigenous perspectives, respecting their rights, and ensuring that their voices are heard throughout the process, municipal construction projects in BC can move forward in a way that is legally compliant, ethically responsible, and more likely to succeed.

The City of Merritt works with six local Bands: Coldwater, Shackan, Nooaitch, Lower Nicola, Upper Nicola, and Cook’s Ferry.

These communities are part of the Scw’exmx (Nłeʔkepmx and Syilx) Peoples.

The IEP supports DRIPA’s principles Self-Determination and Inherent Right of Self-Government, Title and Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Ending Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination, Social, and Cultural and Economic Well-Being (Section 4) as it relates to a Municipality.

It also addresses TRC Calls to Action

• Reconciliation:
  • 43 (UNDRIP implementation),
  • 44 (developing national action plans with Indigenous peoples),
• Business and Reconciliation
  • 92 (corporate sector).

• Build respectful, long-term relationships
• Integrate Traditional Knowledge
• Support two-way communication
• Involve Indigenous partners in every project stage
• Ensure cultural, archaeological, and ecological protection

Engagement and Consultation are often used when collaborating with Indigenous Peoples; however, they are distinct.

In this document, consultation is used in the legal context as it relates to the Duty to Consult.

The City of Merritt recognizes that Engagement is the voluntary formal or informal process by which Indigenous Peoples, government and industry share information and stay connected on issues of mutual interest.

Engagement also addresses local Indigenous community values, priorities and concerns toward the goal of building a mutually beneficial relationship.

The IEP was co-designed through dialogue with leadership and staff from the six local Bands, with input from Indigenous Knowledge Keepers and community advisors.

The Indigenous Engagement Plan outlines specific and repeatable engagement opportunities for each individual project.  While additional engagement opportunities may be added on certain projects, these specified engagement points were identified after significant discussion with Nicola Valley bands.

Engagement includes:

• Cultural site walks
• Knowledge Keeper engagement
• Community meals
• Technical review sessions
• Project updates
• Collaborative design meetings

Engagement is built into all five project phases:

1. Pre-Planning (Flood Mitigation Plan/Indigenous Engagement Plan)
2. Conceptual Design
3. Detailed Design
4. Construction
5. Completion & Evaluation

Traditional Knowledge informs decisions on habitat protection, artifact handling, and design features that align with Indigenous values and land stewardship practices.

Yes. Charlene Joe is the full-time Indigenous Engagement Manager for Merritt. She facilitates communication, chairs the STUWI(x) Steering Committee, and ensures Indigenous input is reflected in every project.

Concerns are documented, tracked, and addressed collaboratively. Indigenous partners are invited to review drafts, attend site visits, and provide input that shapes design, construction, and restoration plans.

The IEP is a living document. It evolves based on feedback from Indigenous partners, project lessons, and emerging best practices in reconciliation and flood resilience.

Copies are available on-line here.

Please reach out to Charlene Joe, Indigenous Engagement Manager, at cjoe@merritt.ca or visit flood.merritt.ca/indigenous-engagement for more details.