How we’re working with Indigenous Peoples
Every part of the Anti-Racism Data Act was developed with Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities.
We’ll continue to work with Indigenous Peoples and racialized communities as we move forward under the Act.
We are committed to working with First Nations, Métis and Inuit people to address systemic racism in programs and services.
The Anti-Racism Data Act enables us to collect and use personal information to help address systemic racism and advance racial equity.
Recognizing Indigenous data sovereignty is an essential part of the ongoing consultation with Indigenous governing entities (IGEs) under the Anti-Racism Data Act.
We will continue to work together with Indigenous Peoples on all data initiatives developed under the Act, including:
- Release of statistics or other information so that communities know about any information that we publish
- Research priorities to focus our efforts on the issues that are most important to First Nations, Métis and Inuit people
- Data directives and standards to guide how and what data is collected
The Act supports our ongoing work towards reconciliation under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.
Indigenous Identity Data Standard
In Spring 2023, Indigenous Peoples recommended several anti-racism research priorities to focus our efforts to address systemic racism in government programs. Indigenous Peoples also highlighted the importance of taking a distinctions-based approach to this work. This means that our anti-racism research must be done in a way that acknowledges, respects and upholds the distinct rights of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.
In early 2026, government published a new data standard to guide how government collects and uses information about Indigenous identity.
The Indigenous Identity Data Standard is an update of the Aboriginal Administrative Data Standard, which was introduced in 2007 and is out of date. The new standard:
- Creates a standardized approach and provides consistent guidance around how ministries and provincial agencies collect data about Indigenous identity
- Shifts the language to “Indigenous” rather than “Aboriginal”, except where the word has specific legal meaning, such as in the Constitution
- Introduces a distinctions-based approach to data collection that recognizes the unique identities of First Nations, Métis and Inuit people
Alongside the Indigenous Identity Data Standard, government also released the Racial Identity Data Standard to support the safe collection of information about racial identity.
Learn more about the Identity Data Standards and how they work together.
What is a data standard?
Data standards help to ensure government collects data in a consistent way.
Standards created under the Anti-Racism Data Act will guide what personal information we can collect to identify and eliminate systemic racism and advance racial equity.
Supporting Indigenous data sovereignty and self-determination
Under Action 3.14 of the Declaration Act Action Plan, we’re committed to advancing the collection and use of disaggregated demographic data, guided by a distinctions-based approach to Indigenous data sovereignty and self-determination. This includes supporting the establishment of a First Nations-governed and mandated regional information governance centre in alignment with the First Nations Data Governance Strategy.
Learn more about how the Province is supporting the creation of the BC Regional Information Governance Centre.
Research priorities
On May 30, 2025, we published research priorities for 2025-2027. These will help guide our anti-racism and equity research over the next two years.
All B.C. First Nations and Métis Nation British Columbia were invited to help develop the research priorities.
Building relationships
We’re committed to lasting reconciliation with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.
To support this work, we hold monthly data circles with Indigenous governments as space for open and transparent discussions about topics of interest related to the Act or data as it relates to Indigenous communities. All First Nations in B.C. as well as Métis Nation BC are invited to join these meetings.
Learn more
Continue reading to learn more about how we worked with First Nations and Métis people to create the Anti-Racism Data Act.