ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation
Land Use Plan and Community Engagement
Client: ?aq’am First Nation, BC
Date: 2017-2018
Location: near Invermere, BC
Bluerock’s Role: Jonathan Schmidt acted as project manager and senior planner while at B&A Planning Group
Indigenous Engagement & Planning
The project team collaborated with stakeholders and community members to create a Land Use Plan that was inclusive to the entire community. A strong engagement plan and execution involved creative ideas to allow community members, administration, and external stakeholders to get actively involved.
This included hiring members from Akisqnuk to undertake home visits to discuss key land use planning topics and ideas. The results were outstanding. Every home on the reserve was reached as well as many off-reserve members via phone calls and online engagement tools. Each home visit was summarized in writing and on a physical map identifying desired areas for various types of needs, such as housing, hunting and gathering areas, and commercial space. The final Land Use Plan was visually appealing, easy to read, and widely supported by Council and the community.
