DRIPA Action Plan Item 4.39 Engagement Process
ETSI-BC is dedicated to empowering First Nations and rural communities in BC’s Southern Interior. We provide funding, resources, and training to foster sustainable growth and create opportunities that enhance community well-being.
In 2024, we embarked on a path towards greater economic reconciliation with the 32 First Nations in our service area. First Nations communities in our region already receive funding from us; now there is an opportunity to participate in our governance & decision-making.
This path will lead to an enhanced governance structure, that ensures all our communities are involved in the governance and decision-making activities of ETSI-BC. For several years, we’ve been asking for our legislation to be changed to include the region’s First Nations in our governance structures. Now, as part of the Province of BC’s DRIPA Action Plan Item 4.39, this vision is becoming a reality. This Action Plan item says the Province will:
- Work with the Province’s Economic Trusts and First Nation partners to develop a mechanism that ensures inclusion of First Nations at a regional decision-making level.
First Nations in the ETSI-BC Service Area:
The 32 First Nations with elected Chiefs and Councils located in our service area include: Adams Lake, Boothroyd, Boston Bar, Chawathil, Coldwater, Lower Nicola, Lower Similkameen, Neskonlith, Nooaitch, Okanagan, Osoyoos , Penticton, Peters, Shxw’ow’hamel, Simpcw, Skawahlook, Skwlāx te Secwepemcúlecw, Skeetchestn, Splatsin, Spuzzum, Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc, Union Bar, Upper Nicola, Upper Simalkameen, Westbank, Whispering Pines, Yale, ?akisq’nuk, ?aq’am, Yaqan Nukiy, Shuswap, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it. The Sinixt also have Aboriginal hunting and fishing rights in our service area.
Our Impact:
Since 2021, we’ve funded 33 First Nations-led projects:
- collaborating with 24 different First Nations partner organizations,
- providing over $1.1 Million in funding,
- supporting 7 projects in the Columbia-Kootenay region,
- and 25 projects in the Thompson-Okanagan region.
DRIPA 4.39 Engagement Activities:
The intent of our DRIPA 4.39 engagement activities, carried out in 2024 and 2025, was to meaningfully collaborate with First Nations communities in the ETSI-BC service area and bring forward a proposal that supports their inclusion in regional economic governance through recommendations for changes to the Southern Interior Development Initiative Act (SIDIT Act) and its associated Regions Regulation.
The engagement process involved outreach to each of the 32 First Nations communities active in the ETSI-BC service area. These communities represent all five Nations within the region: Stó:lō, Nlaka’pamux, Secwépemc, Syilx, and Ktunaxa. The ETSI-BC CEO and Indigenous Engagement Consultant held in-depth discussions with elected leadership and other representatives at 27 of those First Nations communities, to understand their interests, concerns, and ideas related to DRIPA 4.39 and ETSI-BC governance.
Following these dialogue sessions, further discussion was then carried out through three group meetings with First Nations leaders from around the region, facilitated by two consulting firms that specialize in Indigenous engagement. These discussions allowed the facilitators to receive further input and First Nations leaders were able to listen to each other as ideas and principles were expressed.
By April 2025, the consultants finalized their recommendations. Their scope was limited to recommending how First Nations can be included in ETSI-BC’s governance structure. They did not propose changes to the roles of existing participants (e.g., municipalities, regional districts, MLAs, or provincial appointees). As a result, the proposed changes are additions rather than revisions, respecting the current structure while ensuring space is created for First Nations participation in a manner consistent with other levels of government represented within ETSI-BC.
ETSI-BC aims to submit the recommendations for changes to the Southern Interior Development Initiative Act (SIDIT Act) and its associated Regions Regulation the Province of BC by May 31, 2025, along with final input from First Nations leaders in our service area.