This statement is intended to guide public policy professionals/consultants and decision-makers when they are designing engagement processes for the purposes of community-based research, or informing policy and strategy, or making decisions that will impact urban Indigenous people as a community of interest.
For the purposes of this statement, “engagement” does not include formal processes related to the Crown’s duty to consult with Aboriginal governments or to accommodate the infringement of Aboriginal title or rights. As a collective group, urban Indigenous people living in Surrey do not have Surrey-based Aboriginal rights or title. Urban Indigenous people, therefore, cannot speak for First Nation governments with Aboriginal title or rights. Anything related to the Crown’s duty to consult must be directed to the appropriate land-based First Nation governments.
SUILC will not mediate a relationship with First Nation governments for the purposes of facilitating consultation or accommodation with those First Nation governments.
Finally, this Statement on Community Engagement is a living document and SUILC will update or amend this document as it learns about and responds to the needs and interests of the urban Indigenous community in Surrey.
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