As animal welfare organizations, we have many responsibilities directly related to the TRC's Calls to Action and UNDRIP when providing animal-related interventions in First Nations. Formed in 2008, CATF focuses on assisting communities with humanely managing their companion animal population. Alanna Collicutt will discuss what they have learned through their experiences and what they still have to do!

"We are an animal welfare organization, not a human rights organization": Development of guiding principles and an action plan for considering Equity, Diversity, and Reconciliation (EDR) at the BCSPCA. What are the implications for animal welfare organizations to develop EDR policies, and how do these policies compliment or detract from our mission statements? Alison Cuffley, chair of the EDR working group, will share the development timeline, considerations, and tribulations of this endeavour. 

The TRC’s Call to Action 84 focuses on human health, however, human and animal health are directly related and affect each other. Dr Valli Fraser-Celin will discuss how by re-conceptualizing veterinary services as essential to both animal welfare and human health in Indigenous communities, the animal welfare sector can engage in reconciliation with Indigenous peoples by promoting equity through access to veterinary services. 

As an international animal conservation and welfare organization with community-based programming around the world, IFAW has developed Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion tools, awareness, and practices that support our work with our partners on the ground. Jan Hannah will share these principles and practices from her work with First Nations in Canada and other international IFAW programs.

Key Learnings :

1. To learn about how animal welfare organizations are applying equity, diversity, and reconciliation principles in their work and within their organizations.

2. To understand how community-based animal-related interventions are related to broader policies, such as the TRC Calls to Action and UNDRIP.

3. To re-conceptualize equitable access to veterinary services as a framework for reconciliation with First Nations in the animal welfare sector.