New Fellowship to Help Advance UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in BC

REFBC Launches New Fellowship With Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions

The Real Estate Foundation of BC (REFBC) is launching a new Fellowship in collaboration with Tara Marsden and Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions, to help advance the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in its work across the province.

Tara Marsden, a respected Indigenous sustainability, reconciliation, and governance advisor, is joining REFBC as a Fellow to lead this work. The UNDRIP Fellowship aims to help uphold and protect the rights of Indigenous peoples through meaningful partnerships, land-based funding for First Nations, and enhanced organizational knowledge of the importance of UNDRIP in communities REFBC works with.

REFBC is a philanthropic organization working to advance sustainable, equitable, and socially just land use and real estate practices across BC. Since 1988, the Foundation has granted more than $100 million in funding to support projects related to land use and real estate across the province. REFBC’s new strategic plan and forthcoming Indigenous grants stream (a four-year pilot) both seek to advance implementation of the UN Declaration.

“Learning and action in the spirit of reconciliation, reciprocity, and redress are at the sometimes uncomfortable, sometimes tender, always hopeful heart of our purpose going forward,” said Mark Gifford, CEO of REFBC. “This Fellowship is one important step the Foundation is taking to improve policies, practices, relationships, and culture in our organization and field. We’re thrilled to build on our relationship with Tara and Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions, tap into her expertise, and connect our shared leadership and learning interests in advancing UNDRIP.”

Marsden, of the Gitanyow (Gitksan) people, is the sole proprietor of Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions, an Indigenous-owned consulting business aimed at operationalizing free, prior and informed consent for Indigenous peoples, one of the pillars of the UN Declaration. Marsden has over 20 years’ experience working with and for First Nations on sustainable development, land use planning, policy and governance related to lands and resources, and community-driven research. She holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Northern BC.

“In our language (Simalgyax), the word Hlimoo means ‘to help.’ I select work that puts me in service to sustainable solutions to complex land and resource issues in my own territory and more broadly what is known as British Columbia,” Marsden said. “It is a great honour to be invited to work with the Real Estate Foundation as they continue their journey of decolonization and seek to establish new commitments to advancing UNDRIP. Advancing UNDRIP and upholding Indigenous rights is the responsibility of every citizen, not only government. As a funder, the Foundation is in a unique role to be a part of critical change in how funding supports Indigenous self-determination.”

Together, the Foundation and Marsden recently published the UNDRIP evaluation report for the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, along with partner organization Watersheds BC. This report offers a unique approach to exploring how funding entities can best advance the principles and articles of the UN Declaration, both in terms of the projects they fund and how they operate as an organization.

The UNDRIP Fellowship will build on the experience of the Healthy Watersheds Initiative, broaden knowledge of Indigenous rights at REFBC, and lead to further Foundation commitments. Together, Hlimoo Sustainable Solutions and REFBC will adopt a whole-of-organization approach, embracing new training for staff and Board of Governors, integrating UNDRIP principles in granting and reporting processes, engaging a broader circle of Indigenous advisors, and exploring opportunities for Foundation policy development. REFBC will continue to draw on the expertise of international and national standards for funders advancing UNDRIP, including International Funders for Indigenous Peoples and The Circle on Philanthropy.

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