Bringing back what was taken away: co-designing changes to government systems to include Indigenous languages

Themes: Reconciliation | Co-design | Systems Change | Indigenous name reclamation

Indigenous languages in Canada are being revitalised after becoming dispossessed and endangered due to harmful colonial practices. 

Today, Indigenous Peoples are proudly reclaiming their cultural names - including their use with government services. In British Columbia, there are 36 languages spoken, representing over 50% of Indigenous languages in Canada.

This case study will share the story of a team’s ongoing work to co-design and develop an approach to civil registration that meets the diverse needs and upholds the rights of Indigenous Peoples in B.C. 

It will highlight:

• insights learned from engagements with community members
• the methods and materials developed
• how creating space for participants helped them share their perspectives and cultural practices
• how participants’ voices are fundamentally shaping the path forward

Participant takeaways: 

• representation - Indigenous representation on the team who feel safe to speak against the status quo and gently correct, and are in a position to provide guidance and lead conversations, cannot be understated
• reflexivity - a non-prescriptive, reflexive approach allowed for conversations, ideas and potential solutions to emerge
• systems thinking - mapping out systems and designing with realistic scenarios allowed the team to enter the consultation period prepared for (almost) anything
• intangibles - the aspects that made the consultation successful that can’t necessarily (and maybe shouldn’t) be measured
• relationality - creating strong working relationships doesn’t just create better consultation outcomes, but sets you up for future phases as well