There's been a major breakthrough for urban Aboriginal people in British Columbia. Community pressure from Aboriginal organizations, notably recent action by the Aboriginal Peoples Council has successfully lobbied to get a stronger voice for off-reserve Natives.

The BC Government has promised greater focus - an urban strategy - to work more closely with urban Aboriginals.

Premier Dosanjh and UNN's Scott Clark
at Aboriginal Peoples Council roundtable

The promise also includes a specific plan to make sure there is a coordinated approach by government in dealing with the critical issues facing Aboriginal people in urban areas - especially in areas of children and families, health, education and housing.

Except for the Ministry for Children and Families, the government for the most part has been consumed by issues involving First Nations, on-reserve, land based and resource based issues --- the Treaty Process. While they are obviously of extreme importance, the government has all but ignored the equally critical nature of the urban Aboriginal agenda.

Urban Aboriginals represent "eighty per cent" of British Columbia's Aboriginal population, says Scott Clark, President of the United Native Nations (UNN), a province-wide Aboriginal advocacy group.

The fact Aboriginals are overrepresented in all key social problem areas in the cities requires a coordinated, integrated and comprehensive approach to problem solving.

They are "the poorest of poor", says Grace Neilsen, President of the British Columbia Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) representing the several dozen Aboriginal 'sophisticated drop-in' centres around BC. They are for many people, a home away from home - among the many service-delivery agencies that put a familiar Aboriginal face to urban programs. There are an estimated two hundred or more Native operated non-profit societies fighting the good fight in this province.

Line ministries of the provincial government are now being told it is imperative that they work together and with the Aboriginal communities and the federal government. It too is trying to better coordinate its efforts to deal with urban social issues.

The BC Government also promises to take this approach seriously in its negotiations with the Canadian government to provide a tripartite agreement to address urban Aboriginal interests. The Premier has instructed the Aboriginal Affairs Minister to take the lead on this new coordinated approach to Aboriginal issues.

In the Premier's own words, "I do know that you require a well-coordinated approach to issues from our perspective and I have asked David Zirnhelt to chair a committee of cabinet ministers that would include ministers that are appropriate to your needs - might be housing, might be health, others, so that you can sit with them around one table rather than you having to call one minister at a time, and that there is a coordinated approach from our government."

Discussing Challenges and Strategies

The messages about the importance of "partnering agreements" and "the critical need to work together and support each other" are repeated often during community gatherings around the province. They are championed by leaders like Clark and Neilsen of the Aboriginal Peoples Council (APC) who are powerful partners in a process to draw people together in a unique alliance. Theirs is a growing, unified voice for the people whose needs have taken a back seat to their on-reserve brothers and sisters.

Neilsen points to a problem of discrimination, "Urban Aboriginal people experience the same problems as people living on reserve but have less access to the services, and the dollars to provide those services."

Clark has shared his concerns with both the governing New Democrats and the Liberals-in-waiting. His point that there needs to be more emphasis on urban issues is made in terms of dollars and cents. Armed with the facts, he notes "The Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs has to realize that eighty per cent of the Aboriginal population live off reserve, and when they allocate .0046 per cent of their budget to off-reserve Aboriginal issues, it is an area of deep concern".

Now, because of the obvious crisis of need, the desire to follow the belief of "All My Relations", and fortified by the strength of developments such as the Corbiere Supreme Court decision reinforcing urban rights --- both the urban groups and the First Nations leaders have begun serious dialogue to combine their efforts to make sure the interests of both on and off reserve people are adequately addressed, by Aboriginal communities, local, provincial and federal governments.

It hasn't hurt to have Grand Chief Ed John as the Minister for Children and Families. His sensitivity to the issues has contributed in gettting the message across to his cabinet colleagues of the need for an integrated approach to service delivery. As well, knowing his window of opportunity is very small, he is trying to fast-track a process with the community by bringing key players together in a brand new ministerial Aboriginal Advisory Committee.

The winds of changing politics certainly have contributed to the creation of this breakthrough for urban Aboriginals in BC. The fact is, a provincial election is imminent with its perceived looming threat of a new and less favourable administration. As a result, there's been a great deal of activity by the APC and others aimed at ensuring the impact on Aboriginals is minimized.

But no matter who sits in the seat of power, the Aboriginal reality will face them squarely. On and off reserve!