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Topic

Equity, Decolonization, and the Urban Forest: Exploring Indigenous-Led Urban Forest Planning Practices in the Capital Regional District

School of Public Administration

Date & location

• Friday, December 12, 2025

• 1:30 P.M.

• David Turpin Building

• Room B255

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Sarah Marie Wiebe, School of Public Administration, ӣ��Ӱ�� (Supervisor)

• Dr. Tamara Krawchenko, School of Public Administration, UVic (Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Karena Shaw, School of Environmental Studies, ӣ��Ӱ�� 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Justin Albert, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UVic

   

Abstract

Equitable access to urban green spaces is vital for citizen health, climate change mitigation, and reconciliation. However, the urban forest planning processes in British Columbia’s Capital Regional District (CRD) currently do not adequately incorporate Indigenous teachings and knowledge. This deficiency in planning impedes efforts to achieve urban forest equity, decolonization, and reconciliation. Addressing this issue is essential to ensuring that urban forest management is inclusive, equitable, and respectful of Indigenous perspectives. This Master’s thesis examines collaborative approaches to integrating Indigenous teachings and knowledge into urban forest policy within the CRD in order to advance greenspace equity, decolonization, and reconciliation for all residents. 

Promoting collaborative urban forest planning policy is supported under B.C.'s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan, which outlines a framework for the province and municipalities to fulfill the goals of the United Nations Declaration. While the CRD facilitates regional decision-making and positive relationships with local Indigenous communities, it currently lacks specific policies for Indigenous participation in greenspace policy and planning. Literature on the issue highlights the need for Indigenous knowledge in urban planning in order to increase equity and sustainability, as well as overall decolonization. Notable themes include the importance of equity in environmental justice, the need to protect urban green spaces to increase sustainability and biodiversity, and the benefits of achieving meaningful community-based decision-making. However, entrenched colonial frameworks remain a barrier to the integration of Indigenous knowledge. Key partners in this issue include Indigenous planners, knowledge-holders, community members, and local government workers. Furthermore, institutions such as the Canadian Institute of Planners and the Planning Institute of British Columbia support the integration and recognition of Indigenous histories, knowledge, and culture in urban planning. 

Using interpretive policy analysis, thematic analysis, and a critical policy lens, this thesis reviews findings from jurisdictional scans, a literature review, and eight interpretative interviews with Indigenous and non-Indigenous community members to determine preferred methods of collaborative urban forest planning. Through these methods, this thesis makes several recommendations of how the CRD can improve local urban forest planning methods. By evaluating the impacts of each recommendation on the short, medium, and long-term, this thesis recommends that the CRD increase education and capacity-building within government, continue to build relationships with local First Nations, and create ongoing spaces for co governance in urban forest planning at the regional level in order to foster improved collaboration and equity. This thesis advances local regional efforts towards reconciliation, sustainability, and environmental equity by identifying existing barriers and proposing potential ways forward through collaboration built on trust and partnership.