In British Columbia, Truth and Reconciliation are increasingly woven into how many people live, work, and do business. For the real estate and development industry, the most meaningful way to integrate these principles into projects and practices is by listening to those with lived experience and learning from their perspectives. In preparing this report, we spoke with several Indigenous industry members to better understand how reconciliation can take shape in development, operations, and everyday practice.
Troy MacBeth (Lex7em’ken / Neq’á-men (Nicamous)) AbromaitisSenior Development Manager at Musqueam Capital Corporation
“There have been many opportunities to build bridges between Indigenous communities and the broader real estate sector. Increasingly, we’re seeing respectful partnerships take shape—grounded in shared goals, transparency, and mutual benefit. Real estate professionals are becoming more aware of the importance of Indigenous values, governance, and consent. This has opened up space for co-development models, new investment pathways, and joint ventures that prioritize Nation-building and long-term impact.”
Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action
In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada released 94 Calls to Action to address the harms and ongoing impacts of residential schools. Several calls to action speak to issues of territorial rights, economic participation, legal recognition, and self-determination, all of which are central to ethical real estate development involving Indigenous communities.
We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to fully adopt and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation.
UNDRIP asserts Indigenous peoples’ rights to land, resources, and free, prior, and informed consent. BC passed the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) in 2019. Real estate professionals must align their practices with UNDRIP principles, especially when operating in areas with unsettled land claims.
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We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:
Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with economic development projects.
Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.
Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations. This will require skills based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
For developers, investors, urban planners, architects, and real estate professionals, this call to action requires meaningful consultation and relationships with Indigenous communities. Action includes ensuring equitable access to jobs, training, and education as well as promoting Indigenous economic development and self-determination. This call to action urges ethical collaboration, economic inclusion, and acknowledgement of Indigenous interests in business planning and execution.
