UNDRIP Task Force

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  UNDRIP strategy

  Over a year of intergovernmental collaboration and dialogue, the Task Force developed the UNDRIP strategy PDF file (1.4 MB). It contains 79 recommendations for actions and initiatives we can take to support, uphold, and recognize Indigenous rights.

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  UNDRIP action plan

  Following the creation of UNDRIP strategy and 79 calls-to-action, the task force developed our first 5-year action plan to implement the strategy. Technical teams of senior, technical, and operational staff from all 4 governments support the intergovernmental table, made up of elected representatives from all 4 governments.

  The UNDRIP action plan PDF file (614 KB) will be presented to Vancouver City Council at a council meeting on June 25, 2024. Implementation of the action plan will begin following approval by the Councils of all partners.

Members

City Council representatives

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  Councillor Rebecca Bligh

  Councillor Rebecca Bligh started her adult life as a young, single mom and it is here she found her voice in the face of adversity. At the age of 20, she took a job offer with a small security business in Kerrisdale. Not only did she learn how to maximize her daughter’s nap time, she learned what it really means to be committed and follow through. Her early years as a single mom raising a family in Vancouver gave her grit, and built resilience and drive.

  Professionally, Councillor Bligh facilitates programs centered around communication and leadership development. She is a passionate supporter of families, education, and the environment. Councillor Bligh has spent time in Africa working on sustainable leadership programs by partnering with NGOs in the education and ecological conservation sectors. She is a founder of a local fundraiser SwingIt24. The event has brought together more than 200 participants and volunteers in the past three years. With the support of local businesses and sponsors, SwingIt24 has raised over $40,000 to fund leadership training in both education and conservation foundations in Mozambique and Ethiopia.

  Locally, Councillor Bligh is an activator and leader in her community. Ongoing, she volunteers in the kitchen and provides pro-bono coaching and executive development for the Dr. Peter Centre and Dr. Peter Aids Foundation.

  If it weren’t for a local small business taking a chance on her, the future could have been quite different. Now, with an adult daughter and teenage son, it’s time for Councillor Bligh to give back and build solutions to serve Vancouver residents.

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  Councillor Christine Boyle (Task Force Co-Chair)

  Councillor Christine Boyle was elected to Vancouver City Council in 2018 as a member of OneCity Vancouver. She is passionate about strengthening Indigenous rights and visibility, including through the implementation of UNDRIP. 

  Councillor Boyle ran on a platform of:

  1. Increasing affordable housing options in every neighbourhood of Vancouver
  2. Deepening equity, inclusion, and accessibility
  3. Tackling the climate emergency at the scale and speed required
  4. Building a city that works for all of us

  Councillor Boyle was born and raised on unceded Coast Salish territory in Vancouver. She has spent much of her life organizing around issues of social and environmental justice, locally and globally, and running for office was, for her, a continuation of that work.

  Councillor Boyle led strategic communications and supported progressive local leaders at the Columbia Institute’s Centre for Civic Governance. She also supported the development of GreenJobs BC, bringing together environmental, labour, and community leaders to advocate for a just transition to a green economy.

  Prior to that, Councillor Boyle spent many years in front-line social service roles at First United Church in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, and at Grandview/?Uuqinak’uuh Elementary School in East Vancouver.

  Councillor Boyle has an BSc in Global Resource Systems (focused on Urban Agriculture and First Nations Studies) from the University of British Columbia, and an MA in Religious Leadership for Social Change from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, and is an Ordained Minister in the United Church of Canada. She is an enthusiastic cyclist, gardener, and bread baker, and lives in Grandview-Woodland with her husband and two kids.

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  Councillor Adriane Carr

  Born in Vancouver, Vancouver City Councillor Carr earned a master's degree in urban geography under David Ley and Walter Hardwick from UBC in 1980, writing her thesis on the role of citizen groups in building community spirit and shaping development in the neighbourhood of Kitsilano.

  Councillor Carr taught for 12 years at Vancouver's Langara College, serving on the Langara Faculty Association Board and, for several years, as chair of the department of interdisciplinary studies. 

  In 1989, she left teaching to join the executive team at Western Canada Wilderness Committee, a group founded by her husband, helping it grow into one of Canada's largest membership-based conservation groups. From 1989 to 2000, she headed WCWC’s fundraising and grant programs, edited most of WCWC’s hundreds of public education publications, and led several key WCWC campaigns. She is known both for establishing and leading WCWC’s international WILD campaign—including work on the international Biodiversity Convention—and for playing a pivotal role in helping resolve the conflict over oldgrowth logging in Clayoquot Sound, having been asked by the Central Region Chiefs of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council to be a liaison between them and the key environment groups engaged in the issue. 

  During the early 1990s, Carr also served as a committee member of the Canadian International Development Agency’s Environment and Development Support Program as well as a member of the Canadian Government’s Biodiversity Convention Implementation Committee.

  In 1983, Carr co-founded the Green Party of British Columbia, the first Green Party in North America. She served as the party’s first spokesperson until 1985. She was re-elected as the party’s leader in 2000 and became the first Green Party leader in North America invited into a leaders’ debate in the 2001 provincial election. In 2002, Carr headed the non-partisan Citizen’s Initiative for a Proportional Representation Electoral System in B.C. Although it fell short of sufficient province-wide signatures to be considered for implementation, it is credited with resulting in the B.C. Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform. In 2006, Carr left provincial politics to be appointed by Leader Elizabeth May as Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada, leading national fundraising and election training campaigns over the next 5 years. 

  For several years starting in 2009, Carr also co-chaired the Canadian Women Voters' Congress non-partisan Women's Campaign School.

  In 2011 Carr was elected as Vancouver’s first Green Party City Councillor. She topped the polls in both the 2014 and 2018 Vancouver city elections. During the COVID Pandemic, Carr initiated and headed Council’s COVID Recovery Committee. She currently serves as the Chair of the city’s Policy and Strategic Priorities Committee, as a Metro Vancouver Board member, as well as Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Climate Action Committee.
  Councillor Carr has two adult children, two young grandchildren, and lives in Vancouver's West End with her husband Paul George.

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  Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung

  Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung is committed to a liveable and vibrant Vancouver and believes that arts and culture are a vital part of a great city. She is currently serving her first term on Vancouver City Council.

  Previously, she was elected to the Vancouver Park Board where she served as Chair. As a Commissioner, she was a strong advocate for the protection and expansion of parks and green space. During her tenure she brought forward public art projects, supported revitalization initiatives in Vancouver's Chinatown including renewal of the public courtyard adjoining the Vancouver Chinese Garden, and collaborated with the Vancouver Symphony at Sunset now slated to become an ongoing Vancouver favourite summer tradition.

  Her professional background is in marketing and communications, and she has held senior management roles in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Musqueam Indian Band representatives

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  Councillor Allyson Fraser

  Allyson Fraser has been elected Councillor since December 2001, and has served six consecutive two-year terms. Allyson is the Executive Assistant for the Musqueam Legal/Taxation Department and holds a Para Legal Certification from Capilano University, Budget Based Tax Rate Setting Certification from the First Nations Tax Administrators’ Institute, and Property Tax Policy Certification from Simon Fraser University.

  In administering Tax Policies, she believes in maintaining fair and efficient property tax regimes, and ensures our community and the Musqueam tax payers alike receive the maximum benefits. Allyson has a commendable history in working with First Nations, Aboriginal organizations, and the Federal Government. Her areas of expertise also include Land Management and Indian Registry Reporting.

  Allyson is a Director for Musqueam Capitol Corporation and MST Development Corporation. She has worked as a Regional Technician on the Aboriginal Lands Advisory Board and has also served on several Committees of Council (Housing, Education, Employment and Training, Lands, Public Works and Self-Governance).

  Allyson is a member of the Grant and Point family and takes pride in the Culture and Traditions of the Musqueam people. She has two children and two grandchildren. Over the years, Allyson received foster parenting certification and fostered a number of children.

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  Councillor Howard E. Grant

  Howard E. Grant was born and raised in the Musqueam community. He was one of the fortunate children who did not attend residential school, giving him the benefit of learning his culture, values, and teachings from his elders in his every day life. Mr. Grant is his family’s cultural speaker, and is a historian and cultural leader of his extended family. As a result of this, Howard was given the honour by the elders of his extended family to carry the name qiyəplenəxʷ, a name known and respected throughout Coast Salish territories.

  Mr. Grant is currently the Executive Director of the First Nations Summit (FNS). FNS is comprised of a majority of First Nations and Tribal Councils in British Columbia (BC), providing a forum to address issues related to Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaty negotiations as well as other issues of common concern.

  Mr. Grant is also a long serving member of Council from his home community of Musqueam, whose traditional territory once occupied much of what is now Greater Vancouver and surrounding areas. The primary Musqueam Reserve, Musqueam I.R. #2, is located at the mouth of the Fraser River in Vancouver.

  Mr. Grant was previously employed as the Executive Director of the Musqueam Indian Band from 1992 to 1997. He also held senior management positions with the federal government (Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada DIAND now AANDC) from 1984 to 1992.

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  Council appointee Melissa Louie

  Check back soon for Council appointee Melissa Louie's bio.

Squamish Nation representatives

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  Council Chairperson Khelsilem (Task Force Co-Chair)

  Khelsilem is an Indigenous leader for the Squamish Nation, elected to the role of Council Chairperson in 2021 for a four-year term.

  Khelsilem has spent his life working on progressive policy solutions through responsible governance, Indigenous rights, and climate leadership. He's led work with his Council on land use planning, rights and title, language and culture, affordable housing development, and more.

  As a leader, he has been involved in various projects and initiatives like developing a not-for-profit housing society, the Integrated North Shore Transportation Planning Project, North Shore Connects, the BC Climate Solutions Council from 2019 to 2021, and the Assembly of First Nations Leadership Committees. He served one year on the Vancity Credit Union Board, and now serves as a board member for the Vancity Community Foundation and president of the Van Vogue Jam Arts Society.

  Tenure

  • Elected Councilor (2017 to 2021)
  • Chairperson (2021 to 2025)
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  Councillor Kristen Rivers

  Tiyaltelut Kristen Rivers is a proud Indigenous woman of Squamish descent with extensive governance experience and a deep-lived commitment to reconciliation and advancing social and economic justice. Kristen is presently in her second consecutive term on the Squamish Nation Council, while also pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Simon Fraser University.

  In addition to over a decade of experience serving on numerous governance boards and appointments, Kristen has most recently honed her skills in the areas of strategic leadership and ethical decision-making through serving three years as elected Co-Chair of the Squamish Nation Council (a position equivalent to an elected Chief in other Nations), as well as Deputy Chair of the Nation's Finance and Audit Committee, and an active member of numerous other council committees.

  She presently holds positions on the governance boards of the New Relationship Trust and Nch'kay Development Corporation, is an appointed member of the City of Vancouver's UNDRIP Task Force and, serves the Squamish Nation's over 4,000 members through her work on Council's Strategic Priorities and Budgeting Committee.

Tsleil-Waututh Nation representatives

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  Councillor Dennis Thomas

  Dennis Thomas “Whonoak” is a member and an elected Councillor of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation (People of the Inlet) in Deep Cove, North Vancouver. Dennis began working for his community in 2007 as the 2010 Coordinator for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

  Since then, Dennis pursued business with his Nation and managed several band owned businesses including Takaya Tours, an internationally recognized Indigenous tourism business. This is where he connected with his cultural roots and now is a cultural ambassador in his community.

  He strives to embed his Nations culture in all areas so that the ancestral knowledge is awake and alive. He also led new business ventures including implementing the largest Solar array project to date in the North Shore which inspires him to practice and implement green energy. 

  Most recent, as a consultant, he was TWN Cultural Liaison for MST Development Corporation where he ensures Tsleil-Waututh Nations history and culture are at the forefront and rooted in the building structure, architectural design, and the overall public realm. He currently is enrolled in the Simon Fraser University MBA program specializing in Indigenous Business Leadership.
   

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  Councillor Charlene Aleck

  Charlene Aleck is the daughter to (late) Joe and Irene Aleck (nee George). Her maternal grandparents are Chief Dan and Amy George (nee Jack). Her paternal grandparents are Fred (Kiahu) Cheer and Cecelia Thomas (nee Aleck). Charlene’s siblings are Joey, John, Jim, Andrea, and Jeff. Her children are Justine, Hillary, Ocean, and Sara and her granddaughter, Miya. 

  Charlene has forever been an advocate for our people and environment in all the things she has done in her life. 

  She has a background in acting. On a television series, she remained a principle character for 15 years. She accredits this experience to move onto many performance roles locally and internationally. 

  Owner and operator of successful businesses, Charlene helped start from the ground up: Eaglestar Productions – Grip equipment rental company for the film industry, Red Raven Catering Co., Chief Dan George Production Co. (two other companies she had but later dissolved).

  Charlene currently works as a spokesperson for Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s Sacred Trust Initiative, and has been a core team member of Sacred Trust, with revolving responsibilities and titles over the past eight years. This included meeting and speaking with company executives on New York City's Wall Street, Switzerland, Germany, and England, regarding their investment in the TransMountain pipeline and tanker expansion project. 

  Charlene is thoroughly invested in culture and tradition, and making a difference for our people and creating a way forward for all.

  She is serving her fourth term as elected council.

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  Resources

  • UNDRIP PDF file (166 KB)
  • Provincial DRIPA Interpretive Site External website, opens in new tab
  • Federal Bill C-15 Interpretive Site External website, opens in new tab