At the heart of our work in social housing is a simple truth: every project must strengthen relationships, uphold dignity, and reflect the rights and priorities of Indigenous Peoples. Our firm is dedicated to creating environments where First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals, families, and communities feel respected, safe, and genuinely heard.
This commitment is not symbolic — it is operational, measurable, and embedded into every aspect of how we work.
It is guided by leading standards and Indigenous‑led frameworks, including the BC Cultural Safety and Humility Standard (HSO 75000:2022), which sets outcome‑based requirements for eliminating Indigenous‑specific racism and improving cultural safety in health and social services settings.
We strive to create spaces — both in our engagements and the housing solutions we support — where Indigenous Peoples feel safe, respected, and free from discrimination. This definition aligns with the First Nations Health Authority, which emphasizes addressing power imbalances and systemic racism in service environments.
We approach every relationship with openness, self‑reflection, and a willingness to learn. Cultural humility is a lifelong process that FNHA describes as acknowledging one’s own biases and committing to respectful, trust‑based relationships.
Our work is grounded in the Province of B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA), which commits the province to align laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). DRIPA requires co‑development, transparent reporting, and actions that advance the rights and well‑being of Indigenous Peoples.
We honour these commitments by ensuring our projects respect Indigenous governance, knowledge, cultural practices, and decision‑making processes.
We co‑design engagement approaches with host Nations, Métis partners, and Indigenous housing organizations from the outset. FNHA’s guidance emphasizes moving beyond mere acknowledgment to building meaningful, systemic improvements in settler–First Nations relationships — and this commitment shapes every project we take on.
We design our processes to seek consent wherever our work intersects with Indigenous rights and interests. International and UN standards describe FPIC as a requirement for States and organizations to obtain consent before decisions affecting Indigenous lands, cultures, and communities are made, ensuring involvement is free from manipulation, occurs early, and is fully informed.
We apply these principles proactively, even when not legally mandated.
We uphold the First Nations Principles of OCAP® — Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession, which affirm that First Nations have the right to govern how their data is collected, used, and shared.
All research, evaluation, and knowledge‑sharing we conduct follows these principles.
We integrate BC Housing’s Indigenous housing and reconciliation frameworks, which emphasize distinctions‑based approaches and culturally grounded support systems. These approaches inform how we collaborate on planning, design, and implementation with Indigenous housing partners.
All team members undergo role‑appropriate training rooted in FNHA’s Cultural Safety and Humility Framework — including learning about First Nations, Métis, and Inuit histories, trauma‑informed practice, and Indigenous‑specific racism.
Following the structure of HSO 75000:2022 — intent, action, accountability — we publish ongoing progress through annual reporting that tracks outcomes, experiences, and improvements across our projects.
We ensure Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and Indigenous organizations are respected contributors and compensated collaborators in shaping social housing solutions.
We recognize that reconciliation is not a milestone — it is a relationship, a responsibility, and a commitment renewed every day.
Standing against Indigenous‑specific racism.
Supporting Nation‑led housing priorities.
Strengthening cultural safety in every interaction.
Practicing humility as learners, partners, and human beings.
Designing and delivering solutions that honour Indigenous rights, cultures, and futures.
We are here to listen. To learn. To walk alongside communities. And to help build a housing system where Indigenous Peoples thrive in safety, dignity, and cultural belonging.
