In this episode of the Rez Dog Walkers Podcast, host Dallas Smith is joined by Garry Wouters, a policy consultant for Coastal First Nations in B.C. Garry has a wealth of experience working in various capacities as Deputy Minister at both the provincial and federal level and has worked closely with Indigenous communities on the bureaucratic side of landmark negotiations such as the protection of the Great Bear Rainforest.  

Join Dallas and Garry as they celebrate the progress Indigenous communities have made in advocating for their participation in the resource sector. They also consider some of the challenges B.C.’s coastal communities continue to face, such as navigating the tension between economy and conservation, responding to developments such as the proposed revival of the Northern Gateway pipeline project, and increased regulatory responsibilities. 

Drawing from his experiences working with Indigenous communities on a bureaucratic level, Garry highlights the importance of incrementally pursuing goals for long-term change and discusses resource planning at the technical, bureaucratic and decision-making levels. 

Listeners will gain insight into the evolving role of Indigenous communities and leadership in B.C’s resource sector and the ongoing process of establishing and improving government-to-government relations in B.C. from a bureaucratic perspective. 

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