Indigenous communities remember John Horgan, 1st premier in Canada to enshrine UNDRIP into provincial law

One of his most significant accomplishments during his time in office was the 2019 passing of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) — making B.C. the first province in Canada to enshrine the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into law.

‘We didn’t see eye-to-eye but at the end of the day we were still friends’: Tsartlip chief

Courtney Dickson · CBC News · Posted: Nov 16, 2024 8:00 AM EST | Last Updated: November 16

People, including a man in a red jacket next to a man in full Indigenous regalia, pull on poles to raise a totem — B.C. Premier John Horgan, front, and Hereditary Chief David Mungo Knox, back left, of the Kwakiutl First Nation, help raise a replica of a Haida totem pole on the traditional territory of the Semiahmoo First Nation at the Douglas-Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

Indigenous communities throughout B.C. are mourning the death of former premier John Horgan, a man who many knew long before he began his career in politics.

Tsartlip First Nation Chief Don Tom said Horgan played lacrosse with his father, former chief Chris Tom, and he played basketball with and against many Nuu-chah-nulth members on Vancouver Island.

"John Horgan went fishing with many of our members here in Tsartlip, here in the early 70s," he told CBC's All Points West host Jason D'Souza. "We've known John for a long time."

But it was during his time in politics that he had the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the provincial government's relationship with Indigenous communities.

A dark-haired Indigenous man with a moustache and wearing a grey coat faces the camera outside with his hands folded in front of his body. — Tsartlip Chief Don Tom says his family knew John Horgan long before he entered politics. (Province of B.C.)

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"We really can't overstate his role in recognizing the rights of First Nations people," said Heiltsuk Chief Marilyn Slett. "That has advanced and demonstrated the commitment to B.C. upholding our inherent title and rates. That was a big step."

The act uses UNDRIP as a framework for reconciliation, mandating the province to align laws with the U.N. declaration and ensuring minimum standards for Indigenous peoples' survival and sovereignty.

LISTEN | Don Tom remembers John Horgan:

All Points West6:27Tsartlip Chief Don Tom remembers former Premier Horgan

British Columbians are grieving the loss of former premier John Horgan. To share some of his memories, we reached Chief Don Tom of the Tsartlip First Nation. He's also the Vice President of Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.

DRIPA wasn't the only legislation Horgan helped bring in in support of Indigenous people: the Tŝilhqot'in Nation noted his involvement in the Gwets'en Nilt'i Pathway Agreement between the Tŝilhqot'in Nation and provincial and federal governments, which recognizes the First Nation's own governance, as well as Aboriginal title on Tŝilhqot'in territory.

People in suits walk down a hall behind an Indigenous man in a buckskin jacket. — Premier John Horgan, Green Leader Andrew Weaver and Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson leave the chamber moments after Indigenous rights legislation was introduced. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press)

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs said that in addition to DRIPA, Horgan created the Declaration Act Secretariat, led by Jessica Wood, who is from the Gitxsan and Tsimshian First Nations.

"In appointing Jessica Wood as deputy minister, Premier Horgan demonstrated his deep understanding of the need for First Nations voices in the highest levels of decision-making," said Slett, who is also secretary-treasurer for the UBCIC.

Didn't always see eye-to-eye

However, First Nations and Horgan didn't always agree on the best way forward.

Daniel Sims, an associate professor in First Nations Studies at the University of Northern B.C., describes Horgan's legacy as "mixed."

He said Horgan inherited a lot of tough projects and situations when he became premier, including pipeline projects and the Site C Dam — the latter of which he had promised to stop but eventually ended up pushing through.

A man in a blue suit and a young woman in a white jacket stand near a podium — Premier John Horgan is joined by Minister of Energy Michelle Mungall after giving the green light to continue construction of the controversial Site C Dam project during a news conference in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (Chad Hipolito/The Canadian Press)

"John Horgan, like a lot of other premiers in British Columbia, inherited a mess that goes back to the colonial period, and I think each in their own way contributed to trying to fix that mess," Sims said. "I think it's part of this longer legacy as B.C. tries to figure out what reconciliation means and what to do with the fact that Aboriginal title hasn't been dealt with in huge parts of this province."

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While Horgan didn't always make First Nations happy, Tŝilhqot'in Nits'ilʔin (Chief) Joe Alphonse said many appreciated his approach.

"We didn't always see eye-to-eye," Alphonse said in a statement. "But he was committed to the relationship and working through the issues, and he stood on his values and principles, which we always respected. It made great things possible for our Nation and for the Province."

Tom said Horgan didn't hold a grudge.

"As part of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, we would often have difficult conversations where we didn't see eye-to-eye, but at the end of the day, we were still friends; we were still people who liked each other," he said.

As a new cabinet gets sworn in on Monday, Slett hopes that new politicians take a page out from Horgan's book and collaborate with First Nations moving forward.

"It's really something that we need to uphold, and we need to be able to move that forward collectively."