The First Nations Leadership and Governance Association (FNLGA) and Climate Caucus have partnered on a bold set of initiatives designed to expand public dialogue and increase equality in municipal representation.
Currently, just 7 out of 1100 municipal leaders in B.C. are First Nations, despite representing close to 5 percent of the province’s population. Through this partnership, First Nations candidates running in municipal elections will receive free access to Climate Caucus’ campaign school: a highly-tailored program designed by experienced campaign managers to be strategic, useful and game-changing.
Participants will have access to a suite of tools, trainings and an active peer network, alongside successful campaign experts who have won across the country and who will offer advice, office hours and key insights.
First Nations candidates will also have access to a network of mentors, including current and former elected leaders, as well as Indigenous, non-elected leaders, so as to provide an integrated support network across perspectives, cultures and experiences.
"We are so excited about this opportunity for FNLGA to work with Climate Caucus. Our two organizations share many goals and walk the same paths, and now we can do so together while supporting each other. First Nations peoples have been vocal about climate change and adaptation for as long as we have observed environmental change and seasonal shifts, especially when these impacts affect the water, plants, and animals we have relied on for survival. Climate Caucus has been doing this work on the ground and with a governance perspective. We would be proud to share these views and to work with Climate Caucus, ensuring that First Nations' perspectives are heard in this arena. There is so much work to be done, and we are 1 prepared to build this relationship and do the work together,” said Michael Moses, Founder and Executive Director of FNLGA.
“To ensure safe, healthy and prosperous communities, we need policies that respond to—and mitigate—climate impacts. And we need stronger local democracies, rooted in building connections, finding shared solutions and respecting differences, especially during times of growing polarization and disinformation. We’re honoured to be in partnership with Michael and his team at FNLGA, not only to support voices that deserve a seat at the table, but to bolster the resilience of our local democracies during a time of division fuelled by vested interests,” said Zoe Grams, Executive Director of Climate Caucus.
FNLGA and Climate Caucus will continue to build this partnership, including through a working group with local elected leaders working to identify new and resilient pathways for collaborations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities when racism is on the rise.
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