First communities announced for Off-Reserve Aboriginal Action Plan

VICTORIA – Five pilot communities will participate in the first phase of the Off- Reserve Aboriginal Action Plan (ORAAP). The pilot communities are: Vancouver, Surrey, Prince George, Kamloops, and Duncan.
The aim of ORAAP is to improve the lives of the increasing numbers of Aboriginal people who choose to live in urban/off-reserve areas and is being implemented through an initial partnership between the provincial Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (MARR), Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC), local governments, the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres and Métis Nation British Columbia.
The October 3rd, 2011 provincial speech from the throne committed the B.C. government to work with Aboriginal partners, the federal government and local governments to develop an Off-Reserve Aboriginal Action Plan that focuses on improving both the social and economic situations of Aboriginal peoples living off-reserve in B.C.
In addition to working with these groups, the commitment also supports the involvement of groups such as the business sector, philanthropic organisations and academic partners to come up with ways to support social innovation, and more effectively and efficiently deliver programs for off-reserve Aboriginal people at the community level. Although there are many programs and services that provide social supports to the off-reserve Aboriginal population in B.C., poor standards of living continue to exist for many.
There are several reasons for this, including the experience of residential schools. As a result, many urban Aboriginal families are currently living in multi-generational cycles of poverty. Addressing these challenges is the overall goal of ORAAP.
Local Friendship Centres in Duncan, Surrey, Kamloops and Prince George will coordinate the community planning work there. In Vancouver, the Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council (MVAEC) will coordinate the community planning work. B.C.’s Off-Reserve Aboriginal Action Plan will align with the federal government’s Urban Aboriginal Strategy (UAS). Given the common goals and objectives of ORAAP and the UAS, the federal government, through AANDC, and the provincial government, through MARR, have agreed to work together to link both initiatives. Now that the pilot communities have been selected, the next step will be to work with the Friendship Centres and MVAEC to begin planning in the five communities.
These organisations will hold discussions on the formation of local community teams to oversee planning processes and establish a process and timelines for the development of community action plans. Community-driven action plans that reflect local interests will be a key outcome of the community pilots.

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