The Law Foundation of British Columbia (the Foundation) is headquartered on the traditional, unceded lands of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Foundation grants support justice programs across the Indigenous territories that make up BC. As part of the legal infrastructure in this province, the Foundation shares an extraordinary duty to build good relationships with Indigenous peoples, and a responsibility to ensure that Indigenous justice initiatives are a priority in its grant-making.
Call for Community Voices
Table of Contents
Overview
The Law Foundation of BC is inviting Indigenous individuals who feel called to lend their voices, knowledge, and lived experiences to the Law Foundation of BC’s Indigenous Advisory Circle (the “Circle”).
The Circle was created in 2023 as a space for Indigenous leadership and wisdom to help guide the Foundation’s journey and transformation to be in right relations with Indigenous peoples, and to thoughtfully support justice initiatives across the Indigenous territories now known as British Columbia.
In growing our Indigenous Advisory Circle, we recognize that relationships built on trust, respect, reciprocity, and accountability set us up for meaningful engagement and effective implementation of guidance.
We recognize that justice, like healing, looks different in every community and with this, the Foundation invites diverse perspectives from Indigenous individuals across these lands to guide our journey in the most impactful way.
The Circle walks alongside the Foundation, offering critical reflections, perspectives and recommendations on any of the Foundation’s work and particularly work that impacts Indigenous peoples and communities. It is also a space to ask questions, share teachings, and speak honestly about what is needed now and into the future as we carry forward care for future generations. Circle members are invited to help shape and influence how the Foundation grows in its responsibility and commitment to Indigenous justice, self-determination, and systems revitalization.
We welcome expressions of interest from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit individuals living anywhere in BC. We invite those who bring a range of perspectives who feel they could contribute meaningfully to discussions on the Law Foundation’s work. A career or education in law, legal services, or philanthropy is not required. We welcome those with knowledge and experience working within grassroots justice, law reform, governance, legal advocacy, legal research and/or education, land-based knowledge and legal systems, and more. We invite interest from folks of all ages, from youth through Elders.
We do not have a set list of competencies we are seeking. Instead, we invite you to share your journey in a way that reflects who you are and what you carry. You do not need to have all the answers. We welcome those who are willing to walk alongside us, speak with honesty, and bring openness to help move this work forward with care and shared values.
If you are interested in reading more about the Law Foundation of BC and the work it does, you can read our 2023-2028 Strategic Plan and/or our 2023 Annual Report. More information can be found on our website through accessing the About tab.
This is a compensated opportunity. Circle members will be financially supported for their time and contributions, including for pre-meeting preparation and meeting participation. Advisors are compensated at a rate of $200 per hour and compensated hours are agreed upon in advance of each engagement. Travel to and from meetings is either paid for directly by the Foundation or reimbursed.
How often do the Advisors meet?
Regular meetings take place 3-5 times per year.
Meeting types regularly include:
- One or two in-person gatherings annually (1–2 days in length);
- Up to four virtual meetings throughout the year. These may be shorter lunch-and-learn-style conversations (~1.5 hours) and may extend to full-day sessions, depending on the focus and needs of the group and the Foundation. Virtual meetings occasionally take place over two days; and
- Optional, emergent opportunities to engage beyond scheduled meetings. For example, Advisors may be invited to review grant applications, complete assessments/surveys, engage in community learning opportunities or events, among others.
What type of work do the Advisors do?
The work of the Circle is evolving based around the priorities of both the Foundation and the Circle itself. In the past, Advisors have spent time:
- Reviewing and sharing perspectives on internal policies relating to employee experience and accessibility;
- Sharing perspectives on the anti-racist and anti-oppressive work of the Foundation, including staff trainings; and
- Sharing perspective on the development of grant opportunities including assessment frameworks, and assessing grant applications on a limited, emergent basis.
Importantly, potential applicants should be aware that review of written materials is often an expectation ahead of each meeting. While we generally expect applicants to spend around two hours reviewing material ahead of each meeting, in some cases the opportunity for a deeper review may be presented. In those cases, Advisors will be compensated for a maximum of hours communicated by the Foundation ahead of time.
What timing should applicants be aware of?
September 2 – October 24 2025 | The Foundation is accepting Expressions of Interest from September 2nd to October 24th 2025. |
November & December 2025 | Expressions of Interest will be reviewed by Foundation staff and Governors over November and December. |
By End of December 2025 | The Foundation will issue invitations to join follow-up conversations with applicants by the end of December. The Foundation will communicate to all of those who submitted an Expression of Interest whether their submission will proceed by the end of December. |
January & February 2026 | Follow-up conversations will take place in January and February 2026. |
March 2026 | Final decisions will be issued in March 2026. |
April 2026 | The first meeting of the newly formed Advisory will take place in April 2026. |
These dates reflect our current plan. While we are aiming to follow this timeline as described, it is possible that shifts may be needed. If we do need to make a shift, we will share updates as soon as possible in a clear way with anyone impacted.
How long is an Advisory term?
Advisors serve up to a two-year term on the Indigenous Advisory Circle, but may be reappointed based on their interest/capacity and at the Foundation’s discretion.
How can I submit an Expression of Interest?
To express your interest, please share your answers to the following questions through accessing the form linked here: Click HERE
1) Who You Are
Who are you and where do you come from? We invite you to share about your connections to your community and culture, who you call your kin, and how you are accountable to them.
As you share how you identify, you may consider, for example, including your Nation(s), kinship or community ties, identity arising from lived experience, and/or your membership in underrepresented groups such as 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, people with disabilities, or other racialized or marginalized identities.
2) Your Values and Why This Matters To You
Why does this work matter to you? What values (potentially including cultural teachings and values) inform how you would approach your work in the Circle?
3) Engaging in a Group Setting
How do you approach collaborating and engaging in a group setting, considering past experiences working alongside others with a common purpose?
4) Your Knowledge, Experiences & Perspectives
What knowledge, experiences and/or perspectives do you carry that you would bring into the Circle? This could include lived experience, cultural expertise, education, work experience, or others.
In your answer, we invite you to consider which knowledge, experiences and/or perspectives you carry that may intersect with the work of the Law Foundation of BC.
5) Anything Else
You are invited to share your submission in the format that feels best for you, which could include audio, video, or other visual media. While diverse formats are welcome, we do ask that you anchor your submission by answering the above questions.
Please title your file submission with your name (ie. “JosephApple.pdf”).
You may submit in PDF, DOC, DOCX, PNG, or JPG formats. If video or audio files are included in your submission, please upload your file to Vimeo or YouTube and share the link to access it within a written document. The file size limit is 16MB.
All submissions should be made through the following form while attaching your submission via an upload field.
Click the button below to access the submission form.
What is the deadline?
The deadline for submissions is 11:59PM on Friday, October 24th.
As is described in the timeline above, we will communicate invitations to move to a second-stage conversation by the end of December, and we will let every applicant know the status of their submission at that time.
What if I have questions?
If you have questions or need support in submitting your Expression of Interest, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected]. We want this process to feel as welcoming and accessible as possible.
What is the selection process?
The process for selecting members of the Indigenous Advisory Circle is led by a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and may include members of the Foundation’s Board. Advisors are selected using a decolonial lens that keeps values, diversity, and access at its core. The decision-making process holistically balances the Circle with an eye to the group as a whole, while balancing diversity of community membership, educational and career backgrounds, and life experiences.
Who are the current Advisors?
The currently appointed Indigenous Advisors are:
- Amber Severinson
- Arnold Nagy
- Christina Cook
- John Spence
- Patricia Barkaskas
- Qani McKay-Reid
- Warren McDougall