Category: British Columbia Reconciliation Award

Poised to launch its second year of showcasing individuals and organizations whose work demonstrates a willingness to ‘paddle together’ on the reconciliation journey, the BC Reconciliation Award program is ready to elevate excellence and inspire achievement with nominations opening on November 15, 2021. After a year of acknowledging painful truths, now more than ever, reconciliation efforts need to guide the path forward. 

Rooted and inspired in the work of the Honourable Steven Point [Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl], 28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, the program aims to highlight reconciliation success models and inspire change: “we all must paddle in the same canoe”. 

2021 awardee xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ (Many Ways of Doing the Same Thing) Research Team, through Dr. Christopher Horsethief, project co-lead and Ktunaxa scholar, shares the impact of receiving the BC Reconciliation Award: 

“The ultimate goal of our project is a parity between Western and Indigenous conceptualizations of health, wellness and resilience. This is reconciliation through the lens of scientific and academic research—Western and Ktunaxa counterparts calibrating themselves in response to each other’s input, enunciating conclusions that are robust in the sense that they describe the phenomenon in valid terms for both sides. The British Columbia Reconciliation Award has shone a light on a project that will not preference Western research over Ktunaxa research, or vice versa, thus supporting the idea that both are valid.” 

When it came to developing a community-driven and culturally informed approach to decolonizing relationships between health systems and Indigenous Nations, the xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ (Many Ways of Doing the Same Thing) Research Team recognized early on that commitment to respectful engagement and co-learning would be crucial to success.  

The result is a truly reciprocal partnership between the Ktunaxa Nation Council, Interior Health, the University of Victoria and later the University of British Columbia founded on mutual goals of understanding and implementing what reconciliation means and looks like for community health in the Ktunaxa Nation.  

For their innovative contributions to reconciliation xaȼqanaǂ ʔitkiniǂ Research Team was awarded the inaugural British Columbia Reconciliation Award in April 2021. A partnership between BC Achievement and The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, the award program recognizes extraordinary individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province of British Columbia, or inspired others to continue reconciliation efforts. 

“Reconciliation builds relationships and bridges the gap between two worlds through the efforts of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. By recognizing the truths of past wrongs and showcasing examples of how to make things right, others will be inspired to follow,” said BC Achievement Foundation board member Judith Sayers. “The British Columbia Reconciliation Award celebrates innovative and empowering ways to embark on this journey, designed and decided by Indigenous peoples, allowing them to thrive while making the world a better place.”  

Nominations for the 2022 BC Reconciliation Award open November 15, 2021 until January 15, 2022 at bcachievement.com #nominatenowbc 

Photo: Hands of Elders and team members holding a bucket of bitterroot, a visual embodiment of Reconciliation in coming together, exchanging cultural knowledge, and connecting through a shared activity.

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.   

Highlighting excellence has always been about more than the individual. BC Achievement elevates the communities that nurture and benefit from the people we recognize. The effects of their work ripple outward, building momentum and enriching countless lives.   

BC Achievement’s mission is to honour excellence and inspire achievement throughout British Columbia. In doing so, we call others to act to build stronger and more engaged communities.   

The British Columbia Reconciliation Award 

The British Columbia Reconciliation Award represents the apex of our mission and values, underscored by a deep and urgent sense of purpose. In launching the British Columbia Reconciliation Award we are privileged to work in partnership with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor under the leadership of the Honourable Janet Austin. 

The Reconciliation Award draws inspiration from the work of the Honourable Steven Point, 28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and a founder of the Award. His hand-carved red cedar canoe, Shxwtitostel, was created as an enduring symbol of reconciliation, recognizing, in his words that “we are all in the same canoe” and must “paddle together” to move forward. 

Celebrating Awardees 

This week, we shine a light on the inaugural recipients of the British Columbia Reconciliation Award, recognizing individuals and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect and commitment to furthering reconciliation or inspired others to continue reconciliation efforts. We’re honoured to recognize those, who from a place of deep respect and understanding, work to further reconciliation of Indigenous Peoples. This award celebrates the individuals, groups and organizations who have respectfully furthered reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in British Columbia. They are tenacious leaders and compelling changemakers whose work inspires people across the province. 

At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, and we recognize that it is an ongoing journey. Recognizing past injustices and healing those wounds will lead us all to a brighter future. 

Lasting and meaningful change will take continued, consistent and committed effort. Recipients of the Reconciliation Award urge us forward. 

We encourage British Columbians from all communities to reflect on the stories of these remarkable people and to learn from their perspectives and to be inspired by their accomplishments.   

It is our honour to ELEVATE their excellence, and SHARE their success so that together, we may INSPIRE change. 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.  

Q & A with Sophie Pierre, OC, OBC  

Director, BC Achievement Board and BC Reconciliation Award Organizing Committee Member  

Sophie Pierre is an Indigenous leader and served as Chief of ʔAq̓am near Cranbrook for 26 years. She was the Chief Commissioner for the British Columbia Treaty Commission (2009 – 2015) and was instrumental in the formation of the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Tribal Council in the 1970s and subsequently, served as the administrator for 25 years. Sophie was awarded the 2003 National Aboriginal Achievement Award in Business, which recognized her strong commitment to the economic development of her community. In 2016, she was appointed to the Order of Canada and was named to the Order of British Columbia in 1994. She has received Honorary Doctorates of Law from the University of Canada West, the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. In 2013, Sophie was awarded the BC Aboriginal Business Individual Achievement Award. 

Why is now the time for the British Columbia Reconciliation Award? 

The answer to ‘why now?’ is ‘if not now, then when?’. I firmly believe that when things happen, they happen for a reason – there is a greater plan in place. This type of initiative is happening now when it is most meaningful for all the citizens of British Columbia and when it can have the greatest impact. Now is the time!

What is the significance of the partnership between the award program’s presenting organizations: The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of BC and BC Achievement? 

Recognition based on achievement and good work reflects positive progression. With the Lieutenant Governor representing the Crown in our province, Her Honour’s role in the partnership signals that this program is more than just an award – it goes to the underlying question about the history of the Crown in Canada and specifically in our province. It continues the journey of truth and reconciliation for all citizens of the province. BC Achievement’s mission to elevate excellence and inspire achievement makes it the perfect partner to support the delivery and impact of the BC Reconciliation Award program. 

You’ve stated that the mission of BC Achievement is to elevate excellence and inspire achievement – can you explain a bit further how this applies to the BC Reconciliation Award?

BC Achievement uses recognition as a tool to shine the light on excellence and inspire others to do the same. Communities need to look at their actions and showcase their reconciliation practices. It’s almost like a peer review when communities look within and then lift each other up. There are several representations of reconciliation and the models are out there. Recognizing those who rise to the top will allow others to learn from each other and adopt each other’s best practices. We tend to shy away from recognition, but it is so important as communities learn and see the benefits that come from the good work within their own communities. 

What is the anticipated impact of the program? – How do you see the Honourable Steven Point’s vision actualized through the program? 

As I mentioned in the previous question, communities can learn from each other – all BC citizens can learn from each other. The lessons of reconciliation are there within our own backyard and, as His Honour reminded us, “we need to create a better understanding amongst all people that we are in the same canoe. No matter where you are from, we all need to paddle together.” I feel that the impact will develop organically and have a natural spin off from the recognition process– there will be a life to it. As we learn of all the reconciliation activities taking place and all the possibilities to further the journey – we have the opportunity to make the Honourable Steven Point’s dream a reality. 

What’s your message to British Columbians as to why they should nominate someone for a BC Reconciliation Award? 

First of all, I cannot say enough about how grateful I am to those who do nominate – for all BC Achievement’s programs. And I thank them. We need these champions who take the time to tell these stories of excellence and nominate worthy individuals and organizations for the BC Reconciliation Award. I also think that all British Columbians are pretty damn special – and need to be recognized! It is one of the hardest things to acknowledge when you’ve accomplished something notable, yet it is so important. We need to collectively blow our horns to lift up our communities. The momentum created will then take on a life of its own! #nominatenowbc 

Thank you, Sophie!  

For more information on the British Columbia Reconciliation Award, or to nominate, you can go to bcachievement.com. Nomination deadline is January 15th, 2021. 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

BC Achievement runs a number of  programs which celebrate excellence to inspire achievement and the most recent addition to its roster is a partnership program. The British Columbia Reconciliation Award is a partnership between BC Achievement and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of BC. Why a partnership? 

The Honourable Janet Austin, the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, shared that there are several reasons for this important partnership with BC Achievement to honour and further reconciliation. “The Honourable Stephen Point had originally come up with the idea during his term as Lieutenant Governor but wasn’t able to execute within the short period of time. I certainly had discussions with him about reviving it and we felt it was important to reach out to a partner organization that had considerable experience managing significant awards like this and that also shared the same values and really the same desire to advance reconciliation.” 

In the words of Kekinsuqs Judith Sayers, President of the Nuu chah Nulth Tribal Council and Board member of the BC Achievement Foundation, there is a connection between the two organizations that lends itself to a partnership program. “It is something we wanted to do, and we do have several First Nations people on the board and several awards dealing with First Nations people in business and in art…so it just seemed like a natural fit for the Lieutenant Governor and the BC Achievement Foundation to come together to put this award together, so it was just something exciting, and something that needed to be done.” 

A partnership program is a valuable way to recognize individuals, groups and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect and commitment to furthering reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the province. Not only does this partnership allow greater reach of the program’s mandate, but it also brings awareness to a larger audience, and it helps build a bridge between Indigenous peoples and British Columbia’s history, a move itself that symbolizes a commitment to reconciliation: 

“We need to create a better understanding amongst all people that we are in the same canoe. No matter where you are from, we all need to paddle together.”  The Honourable Steven L. Point, OBC (Xwĕ lī qwĕl tĕl) 28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (2007-2012) 

For more information on the British Columbia Reconciliation Award, or to nominate you can go to bcachievement.com. Nomination deadline is January 15th, 2021. 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

Increased efforts aimed at reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, led by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2015 report and BC’s adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (November 2019) are rising to the forefront of our collective conversations and actions.  

It’s important that the work being done around reconciliation in this province be recognized, shared and celebrated in a way that inspires others to do the same. The newly established British Columbia Reconciliation Award launched in November 2020, does just this. The BC Reconciliation Award is a partnership between BC Achievement and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of BC. 

The Honourable Janet Austin, the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, along with BC Achievement board member, Kekinsuqs Judith Sayers, President of the Nuu chah Nulth Tribal Council together spoke to Stephen Quinn of CBC about the Award program last month. Her Honour shared Her belief that the partnership is a natural place to house the Award program, “It’s a neutral nonpartisan platform that’s above politics. But I also believe that it’s important and appropriate for me as the representative of the Crown to advance reconciliation as a way to honouring the intent and the spirit of the historic relationship between the Crown and Indigenous peoples. It’s also one of three themes that I’ve chosen to champion during my mandate and I think of it as an affirmation of the respect and goodwill that we want to encourage and the desire to advance reconciliation.” 

The Award program is open to individuals, groups and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect and commitment to furthering Truth and Reconciliation in the Province of British Columbia and/or inspired others to do so. There already exists a number of examples of reconciliation in BC, as Kekinusuqs Judith Sayers, can attest. “I think you see any number of initiatives between First Nations and municipalities in building tourism, or business or models of working together. You can see some organizations working with Indigenous peoples to learn about [and] embrace Indigenous peoples to come and talk to them and educate them, and so there’s going to be many varied attempts of on working on reconciliation that we’re going to need to choose from.”  

The Award program is a path forward, an opportunity to recognize the truth of the past and create hope for the future: 

 “I think we need to create a positive atmosphere where we need to showcase those people who are working with Indigenous peoples to bring true reconciliation according to what reconciliation of the Indigenous peoples want…and I think that’s want we want to do here… we want to be innovative and we want to be creative…let’s showcase and show other people it’s possible so that they can do the same thing in their communities.”  Kekinusuqs Judith Sayers

You can nominate now for the 2021 British Columbia Reconciliation Award at bcachievement.com. Nominations are online and open until January 15.

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.