Despite making up nearly 5% of the province’s population, only 7 out of the 1,100 municipal leaders in B.C are First Nations. This webinar highlights a new partnership between the First Nations Leadership and Governance Association (FNLGA) and Climate Caucus, with leadership from Councillor Michael Moses, to strengthen inclusive local governance across the province. Participants will learn about the barriers First Nations candidates face in accessing municipal leadership, strategies to increase representation and how we can all contribute to supporting equitable municipal representation.
The session provides an opportunity to connect with community members, local leaders, and partners to collaborate, share experiences and discuss how to support.
Speaker:
Councillor Michael Moses
Michael Moses is an Indigenous entrepreneur, water protector, and content creator; he is Secwépemc and Nlaka’pamux (Shuswap and Thompson Salish), and both of his parents attended the Kamloops Indian Residential School. Michael grew up in Williams Lake, and attended Marie Sharpe Elementary School, Lake City Secondary School, and Thompson Rivers University. He has lived here for over three decades, and his daughter was born and raised here. Michael’s business is dedicated to empowering Indigenous business owners and artists’ digital marketing, e-commerce and digital transformation, while also having a focus on an Indigenous topics podcast and blog.
With his unique experience gained from his work as a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Mental Health Association, along with his involvement with the Cariboo Friendship Society, Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society, CC CARE and Citizens on Patrol, Michael brings Indigenous representation to City Council with strong views on mental health and safety for everyone in our community, as well as a focus on reconciliation and climate action.
About First Nations Leadership and Governance Association
FNLGA’s goal is to recruit, train, mentor and support potential First Nations candidates to run in elections in British Columbia for City Councillor, School Trustee and Regional Director positions. Our non-profit non-partisan cultural sensitive approach will ensure that our province has First Nations representation in all forms of government with all points of view. Indigenous voices belong at every decision-making table. Next, we will support First Nations in joining strong Boards of Directors, from local to federal, while providing a support network for elected First Nations delegates. We know from experience the stresses, hardships, and even racism that an elected delegate faces. One of our goals is to provide a peer support network to assist each other in dealing with these hard issues, and to share our celebrations with.
