Principle in action

Strategic long-term planning also known as the seventh generational thinking is one critical principle of nation building, particularly for Indigenous communities striving for self-determination and sustainable development. It involves setting a clear vision for the future, establishing goals, and implementing systematic actions to achieve these objectives and making decisions with a focus on the future well-being of the community. Decisions are made with long-term priorities in mind. This approach is essential for fostering resilience, cultural preservation, and economic growth. Development is often viewed as a means of creating a community that is long-term viable. Rather than emphasizing on a problem's symptoms, the goal is to identify and solve the underlying causes (Bachiu, Fulton, & Jackson, 2024).

Actions and Strategies Implemented

·   Vision Development

The Tsleil-Waututh Nation developed a comprehensive vision through a six-stage process for their community, focusing on the well-being of their people, the health of their land, and the preservation of their cultural heritage. This vision has guided their strategic planning and decision-making processes. The first stage involved an extensive visioning process, establishing principles for an indigenous government. The community then reformed their internal governance process, creating a constitution with administrative functions, elected positions, and representatives from nine traditional families. The third stage involved an inventory of existing community resources, researching historical development and developing maps. The fourth stage involved designing long-term and short-term plans, with the community identifying two types: long-term and short-term. The fifth stage involved implementation, with an inclusive conference of stakeholders and the development of protocol agreements and memoranda of understanding. The final stage involved self-reflection, with the community, administrators, and leadership reviewing goals to ensure they remain relevant and aligned with the vision. This comprehensive community planning balances environmental stewardship, resource management, living standards, cultural values, and socio-economic conditions, serving as the hub of strategic thinking(Canada. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 2004) .

·   Adopting the FNLMA and Developing a Community Plan

The Tsleil-Waututh First Nation is in the process of entering into the First Nations Land Management Act (FNLMA), adopting its own land management code and developing a community plan for its urban reserve lands. The community plan will address issues such as land use, zoning, bylaws, phased residential development, economic development opportunities, housing and social services. Social services are important to the Tsleil-Waututh, and they feel that one of the responsibilities of an urban First Nation community is to act as a host and source of stability for the many First Nations people that come to the urban setting. Having a supportive First Nation community nearby should be very helpful.

·   Creating an “Engine” for Opportunity

Chief Leonard George emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnerships for the Tsleil-Waututh community due to its small population. They chose an Asian business partner to build a high-density housing complex in the early 1990s, resulting in six three-storey buildings with nearly 700 condominium units. The project, which leased 4 of the 110 hectares of the Tsleil-Waututh's largest urban reserve, has funded various community activities, including a golf driving range, eco-tourism, forestry companies, and a new community center. Income from the housing development has allowed the Tsleil-Waututh to quadruple their land base.One of Tsleil-Waututh’s strengths has been their skills at creating mutually beneficial partnerships with different agencies within both the public and private sectors. They have established agreements with numerous organizations such as the District of North Vancouver, BC Ministry of Forests, BC Parks, Ecotrust Canada, Simon Fraser University, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, and International Forest Products. These partnerships focus on capacity building, environmental protection, and business development(Canada. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, 2004).

·   Tsleil-Waututh Nation Strategic Plan 2022-2025

The Tsleil-Waututh Nation Strategic Plan 2022-2025 aims to achieve strategic goals through cultural revitalization, economic development, health and wellness programs, housing initiatives, and sustainability. Key initiatives include promoting the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language, promoting economic development through business ventures, providing training programs, and ensuring community well-being through health and wellness programs. Additionally, the plan focuses on environmental stewardship and reviewing proposals to ensure sustainability and community benefits. It emphasizes connecting to land and water, preserving ancestors' footprints, and transferring knowledge to future generations, ensuring all proposals in their territory support these goals(Tsleil-Waututh Nation, 2023). 

·       Burrard Inlet Action Plan

The Burrard Inlet Action Plan is a strategic initiative led by the Tsleil-Waututh Nation with the goal of improving the health of Burrard Inlet by 2025. The plan is science-based and focuses on environmental stewardship. Here are some key aspects of the plan: Vision: The Tsleil-Waututh Nation envisions a productive, resilient, and diverse Burrard Inlet environment where healthy, wild marine foods are abundant and safe to eat, water and sediment are clean, important habitats are plentiful and connected, and there is a high level of biodiversity. Purpose: The Action Plan aims to summarize scientific knowledge about Burrard Inlet, identify priority issues related to environmental degradation, identify important environmental knowledge gaps, foster a shared vision for environmental stewardship, and identify near-term actions to improve the health and integrity of the inlet. Priority Actions: To improve the environmental health and integrity of Burrard Inlet, six priority actions have been proposed, which include updating water quality objectives, installing scientific instruments to monitor water quality, reducing pollution from stormwater runoff, mapping nearshore habitats and forage fish spawning beaches, conserving critical nearshore habitat complexes, and recovering shellfish beds. The plan is a foundational document for a new initiative that is First Nations-led and emphasizes collaboration and scientific research to achieve its goals(Tsleil-Waututh Nation, 2023) .