Mission: Our mission is to be the collective voice of the urban Indigenous population in Surrey. We will advocate on behalf of all urban Indigenous people in Surrey and work collaboratively with other governments, organizations, and individuals that are committed to understanding and achieving our vision.
Vision:A city that values Indigenous contributions to city life. A city that is committed to working toward reconciliation at all levels. A city where every Indigenous person has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.
Our Values:
- Respect for the political autonomy of the Coast Salish First Nations in Surrey.
- Respectful engagement with the Coast Salish First Nations in Surrey.
- Cultural understanding and competence.
- Commitment to address racism and intolerance.
- Collective action.
- Perseverance and determination.
- Space for First Nation and Métis voices.
- Inclusive of all Indigenous people regardless of status or membership.
- Caring for and nurturing relationships.
- Leading with our hearts.
About Us: Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee is a membership of Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations that are directly connected to the Indigenous community in the City of Surrey.
We advocate for Indigenous people living in the City of Surrey to increase the overall health and well-being of Indigenous people.
Our efforts are focused on access to affordable housing, access to an Indigenous gathering space, addressing Indigenous child poverty, advancing cultural awareness and safety, supporting Indigenous youth and Elders, as well as increase funding for programs and services
We understand the barriers Indigenous people often face in the City of Surrey and we are dedicated to advocating on behalf of all Indigenous people living in Surrey. We work collaboratively with our partners to address our five strategic objectives and achieve our vision through our mission guided by our values. Our SUILC UNDRIP Implementation report succinctly explains our commitment to the advocacy we do.
Our Journey: In 2015 Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee was born out of the development of a Surrey Urban Aboriginal Social Innovation Project. In 2017, we outlined our Strategic Objectives in our report, All Our Relations: A Social Innovation Strategy. The Social Innovation Project came to a close in 2018 and is the foundation for our ongoing work to advocate for urban Indigenous people living in Surrey.
