At the October 10, 2018 meeting, the CRD Board approved a set of recommendations from the Final Report of the Special Task Force on First Nations Relations.

The Final Report provides a summary of activities and some lessons learned over the course of the Task Force’s four year term and presents eight recommendations for the Board’s consideration. The recommendations capture the Task Force’s view of optimal next steps to guide the CRD’s path towards a more inclusive governance model for the region.

• Final Report (PDF)
• Statement of Reconciliation (PDF)

The CRD’s Government-to-Government Relationship Building Initiative was launched in 2023 to strengthen relationships with First Nations in the region, understand how each Nation would like to collaborate with the CRD, co-create mechanisms that support respectful engagement, and identify priority topics to inform the development of a CRD Reconciliation Action Plan. The Government-to-Government Relationship Building Initiative Summary Report (PDF) identifies the key themes heard in the feedback from First Nations and makes recommendations to inform the CRD’s next steps. 

Building on prior recommendations, the CRD retained a consultant in 2022 to learn how First Nations and Indigenous organizations in the capital region would like to be engaged on employment initiatives, assess CRD readiness to collaborate on employment partnerships and initiatives with Indigenous partners, and research and report on wise practices related to Indigenous employment and workplace cultural safety.

These three reports are the outcome of this project and contain recommendations for how the CRD can become a more desirable workplace for prospective Indigenous employees.

• Indigenous Employment Project Summary Report(PDF)
  This report provides a high-level summary of findings and recommendations.
  
• Indigenous Employment Project Findings and Recommendations (PDF)
  This report contains the full findings, including wise practices for Indigenous employment in the context of the CRD.
• Indigenous Employment Project Wise Practices Indigenous Employment and Culturally Safe and Supportive Workplaces (PDF)
  This is a stand-alone report that has been made available as a resource for Indigenous communities and employers in the region.
  

The CRD and paaʔčiidʔatx̣ (Pacheedaht) First Nation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2024, formalizing their government-to-government relationship.

• Pacheedaht First Nation – CRD Memorandum of Understanding (PDF)

The CRD Board has asked the Special Task Force to deliver Board training in aboriginal culture and specifically Coast Salish and Nuu-chah-nulth traditions and protocols. On June 11, 2016 at the First Peoples House at UVic, a Forum of Councils was held with a special focus on Indigenous Cultural Acumen Training. Directors and staff are exploring cultural awareness training as opportunities arise.

• Event Video