By Bronwen Geddes

“Why plan?” asked Jessie Hemphill at the recent comprehensive community planning (CCP) workshop in Whistler.  “Because your community is worth it!”

Over the last decade, CCP has become one of the most popular forms of planning among First Nations in British Columbia. It is a community-based process that is founded on the voices and ideas of members.

The recent CCP workshop, held in the Squamish Lil’wat cultural centre in Whistler, spread over three days and included participants from almost 60 First Nations across Canada – ranging from Haida Gwaii in the west to Prince Edward Island in the east.

Halalt and Stz’uminus delegates attended while many other Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council member nations – including Homalco, Klahoose, Malahat, Snaw-nawas, Tla’amin, Tsleil-Waututh, and T’Sou-ke – have been involved in working with their members in the comprehensive community planning process over the last five years. Interest in this grass-roots approach to planning is spreading across the country.

CCP is all about sitting with members, hearing their stories, hopes and dreams for their community. At the end of a community- based planning process, which can take several years, First Nations have a road map for the future. They have a plan in which every member can see themselves and the result of their input.

More than half of BC’s 203 First Nations have already started in the CCP process. Many have completed their plans and are using those plans to guide them and ensure that their community moves forward in a good way.

Bronwen Geddes is the community planning advisor for Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council.