Indigenous Relations
Learn more about our commitment to establish and maintain good relations with Indigenous Peoples in our province.
Our commitment
Indigenous Reconciliation is a priority for BCLC.
We continue to establish and improve relationships with Indigenous rights and title holders, Indigenous governments and Indigenous employees within BCLC, with the ultimate goal of collaborating on and developing an Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan that aligns our policies and programs, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration), the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act), the Declaration Act Action Plan, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action.
We have made early steps towards improving recruitment, retention, training and advancement opportunities for Indigenous people within BCLC. We are also improving access to procurement opportunities for Indigenous-owned businesses and introduced mandatory employee training regarding Canada’s colonial history with Indigenous peoples.
BCLC’s Senior Manager, Indigenous Relations, is helping lead us on our journey towards building and maintaining good relations with Indigenous Peoples. This role oversees our collective work of:
- Establishing a clear and sustainable path to lasting reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and an understanding of what the provincial government’s unanimous passage of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act means for BCLC.
- Creating, implementing and aligning new and existing policies, programs and communications across BCLC.
- Building relationships, consulting and collaborating with Indigenous Peoples, and non-Indigenous stakeholders.
- Measuring progress on our journey to remedy socio-economic disparities between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
$113.6
million
Every year, First Nations receive a seven percent entitlement of BCLC net income through the BC First Nations Gaming Revenue Sharing Limited Partnership.
Corporate goals
As a social purpose company, we can only achieve our vision and purpose through intentional and meaningful engagement and collaboration.
Meaningful relationships are one of BCLC’s overarching strategic goals and are critical to our success.
Our relationships with our employees, Indigenous title and rights holders, and stakeholders are what set us apart and create future business opportunities.
Decolonizing BCLC’s operations and fostering equitable relationships includes the understanding that:
- Most of British Columbia is on unceded territory; with a colonial past that created immeasurable harms.
- The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada call on organizations to decolonize their practices and foster authentic relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
- BCLC offers gambling products in and near Indigenous communities that have impacts on the lives, health and interest of Indigenous Peoples.
- BCLC has embarked on the journey to create a better understanding of, and relationship with, Indigenous Peoples and communities.
BCLC's priority actions include:
Recent articles
Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Flag Raised at BCLC’s Head Office
For the first time, the flag representing Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc was permanently raised at BCLC’s head office in Kamloops today, National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Six Questions with BCLC's Senior Manager of Indigenous Relations
In fall of 2022, we welcomed Shane Vincenzi to BCLC as the Senior Manager of Indigenous Relations. This new position will help BCLC create a path to lasting and meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
PLATO Internship with Matthew Antoine
Matthew Antoine joined BCLC as a software-testing intern through PLATO. As a young Indigenous person, he shares insight into his experience working at BCLC through this program and how it reaffirms his chosen career path in technology.
Contact us
If you have feedback for our Indigenous Relations team at BCLC, we'd love to hear from you!