Acting with integrity and respect underpins all of our work and during the reporting period, early reporting on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) themes was initiated to more clearly demonstrate activities associated with these principles.
As part of the ESG framework, we have developed a comprehensive Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan, with priority actions that connect key themes with our organizational purpose.
LTSA completed the development of an Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan (IRAP) to guide LTSA in aligning with the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and responding to the Calls to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) within the context of LTSA’s mandate. The aim of the plan is to establish a meaningful framework for how LTSA can conduct its business in the spirit of UNDRIP and the TRC Calls to Action.
In this reporting period, LTSA took action as summarized below:
- Truth and Reconciliation Day – LTSA honoured the second Truth and Reconciliation Day by recognizing the day as a statutory holiday and closing all LTSA offices on September 30, 2022.
- First Nations National Land Registry – LTSA continued to build a strong partnership and collaboration with the Lands Advisory Board to leverage LTSA knowledge and expertise to help develop a First Nations owned and operated National Land Registry (see page 11 of the Annual Report for more information).
- Historic Records Advisory Committee – Recognizing the value of the records for First Nations, LTSA continued collaboration with its Historic Records Advisory Committee (established in 2019) which provides advice to LTSA regarding the preservation and accessibility of the records in LTSA’s care. The Historic Records Advisory Committee includes members from First Nations organizations.
- Recognition of Indigenous characters in BC’s Land Registry – LTSA has continued foundational work to identify how it might expand the current suite of allowable text characters within its own systems to address this important function while still maintaining strong data integration with a broad environment of other systems and organizations that rely on LTSA’s information.
- Treaty Lands Surveys – Treaty lands are surveyed with advice and instructions provided by the Surveyor General and Deputy Surveyors General.
There is more to be done which will be informed by the continued implementation of the Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan.