Abstract Manager

First Nations in British Columbia have maintained extensive transportation systems and trade routes since time immemorial, which were disrupted by colonial policies that restricted mobility and isolated Nations. Despite commitments under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and legislated greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets, many First Nations in B.C. continue to lack access to safe, equitable, affordable, and low-carbon transportation options. For First Nations, transportation is not solely about mobility; it is deeply connected to sovereignty, safety, health, climate justice, and economic resilience.

Today, many First Nations face compounded transportation challenges shaped by colonization and ongoing inequities, including remote and island geographies, limited local and inter-community transit, gaps in active transportation infrastructure, systemic barriers to vehicle ownership, and jurisdictional complexity across on-reserve and off-reserve networks. Findings from our province-wide First Nations transportation survey further highlight that transportation affordability is a critical concern, with many respondents spending a disproportionate share of household income on transportation, and limited alternatives resulting in continued reliance on personal vehicles.

In response, the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) launched the First Nations Low-Carbon Transportation Project (2022–2027) to advance equitable access to safe, affordable, reliable, low-carbon, and active transportation across B.C. A core objective of the project is to provide tools and resources that support First Nation-led and self-determined transportation planning. As part of this work, BCAFN collaborated with the Community Energy Association (CEA) to co-develop the Low-Carbon Transportation Planning Guide (LCTPG).

The Guide was shaped through pilot projects led by First Nations representing diverse geographic and governance contexts. Pilot Communities received funding and dedicated support to advance community-driven planning rooted in local priorities, governance structures, and lived experience. Project survey and pilot findings identified shared challenges related to affordability, safety, long-distance access to essential services, and limited transportation options, alongside strong interest in community-led solutions such as active transportation, community shuttles, and shared mobility.

The Guide presents a four-phase planning framework that integrates community engagement, transportation inventory development, safety, equity, affordability, and carbon assessment, and implementation planning. Alongside the Guide, insights from the pilot communities informed the BC First Nations Transportation Assessment Report and Action Plan, which elevates shared barriers and proposes system-level recommendations for policy, funding, and institutional change.

Together, these deliverables demonstrate a practical pathway for aligning First Nation-led transportation priorities with transportation agency planning and project delivery. Attendees will gain actionable lessons on Indigenous-led engagement, respectful data practices, and how transportation agencies can support reconciliation, equity, and a just transition in transportation systems.