Indigenous Roundtable gathering in Richmond, May 27-28

The Province of British Columbia has officially reinitiated its consultation process on the Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework and Commercial Bear Viewing Strategy, marking a pivotal moment in advancing collaborative, Indigenous-led grizzly bear stewardship across the province.¹

To support this process, the Grizzly Bear Foundation has signed an agreement with the Province to support First Nations consultation through the Indigenous Roundtable on Grizzly Bear Conservation & Bear Viewing Ecotourism (The Roundtable). This Indigenous-led initiative is designed to centre First Nations’ knowledge, leadership, and values while developing a world-leading model for wildlife stewardship.

“This agreement strengthens an Indigenous-led process to create meaningful pathways for shaping wildlife policy,” says Richard Sparrow, Director of Indigenous-led Conservation at the Grizzly Bear Foundation. “The Roundtable, proceeding in parallel with Provincial consultation, aims to ensure these conversations are accessible, relevant, and impactful.”

The Roundtable gathering will take place May 27–28, 2025, at the River Rock Casino Resort in Richmond, B.C., on the territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nation. The event will feature Tier One Nation-to-Nation dialogue and Tier Two discussions between First Nations and the Province. Interested First Nations across the Province are encouraged to register to be a part of this Roundtable.

Registration is now open. There is no strict deadline, but Nations are encouraged to register early. Please note, funding is available for travel and accommodation. Registering early helps ensure that travel and accommodation funding and preferred room rates are available, as support will be offered on a first come, first serve basis.

Learn more and register here.

Since 2020, over 85 Nations have contributed to early drafts of the Framework and Strategy, which integrate Western science, provincial and Indigenous law and policy, and content co-developed with First Nations. Public and stakeholder engagement was also completed, with feedback incorporated into the latest drafts.

Find out more information about the Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework. Here’s some additional information on the Indigenous Roundtable.

1. Grizzly Bear Stewardship Framework and Commercial Bear Viewing Strategy (PDF)

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