BCNU Welcomes Budget 2018's Commitments to Indigenous People's Priorities

February 23, 2018

BCNU is very pleased to see strong investments are being made for Indigenous reconciliation and First Nations language revitalization in the NDP's 2018 provincial budget.

On Tuesday, the government announced it will commit to fully adopting and implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, a position BCNU has long advocated for.

BCNU believes the over $200 million investment this fiscal year for housing, culturally based child care, and skills development training will positively impact Indigenous people's social determinants of health. Our long-standing position is that socio-economic factors are often strong indicators of health outcomes.

We are also pleased to hear there will be additional funding in the budget for Aboriginal Friendship Centres, which provide health, social and youth programs and foster a deep sense of community for all Indigenous peoples whether they are status, non-status, Métis or Inuit.

Lastly, as champions of cultural competency and cultural safety, BCNU welcomes the additional $50 million investment for preserving and revitalizing Indigenous languages, many of which are in a state of crisis.