Welcome Message
The B.C. Cabinet and First Nations Leaders’ Gathering takes place Tuesday, November 4 and Wednesday, November 5, 2025, on the territories of the Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx ̓wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
This is the second Gathering to be held in 2025. The fall 2024 Gathering was postponed to January 2025, due to the B.C. general election.
The Gathering is a partnership between the First Nations Leadership Council (comprised of the BC Assembly of First Nations, the First Nations Summit and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs) and the Government of British Columbia. As one of the largest meetings of provincial and First Nations leaders in the country, the Gathering is designed to recognize, respect and honour relationships, and foster joint dialogue and collaboration through plenary dialogues, discussion, and one-on-one meetings.
One-on-one meetings between First Nations leaders and provincial government representatives will be offered on-site. Please register and request meetings as soon as possible.
Agenda
November 3
Monday
2:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Early registration
Evening
Reception hosted by the Business Council of British Columbia and the BC Federation of Labour
November 4
Tuesday
7:30 am
Registration opens
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Opening remarks, delegate sessions in plenary and discussion sessions, and one-on-one meetings
November 5
Wednesday
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Delegate sessions in plenary and discussion sessions, one-on-one meetings and closing remarks
The Gathering program may be available onsite at the registration desk.
Registration
Registration is available for a maximum of two representatives per community, plus one youth delegate, for a total of three delegates. A youth delegate is generally considered to be between 18 and 29 years of age.
All participants must be registered by Monday, October 6, 2025.
To register for the Gathering, please click the “Register Now” button and complete the registration form for each delegate.
Request a Meeting
We are pleased to schedule one-on-one meetings between First Nations leaders, cabinet ministers and senior provincial government leadership.
All meetings for the Gathering will take place in person only. Meeting schedules and location details will be provided once all meetings are confirmed.
Delegates must submit their meeting requests by Monday, October 6, 2025. The number of meetings scheduled per First Nation depends on the volume of requests received and may be capped.
To submit a meeting request, please click on the “Request A Meeting” button and complete the meeting request form.
All sessions and one-on-one meetings will take place in-person at the Gathering.
Travel & accommodation
One representative and one youth delegate from each community are eligible for reimbursement for a total of two representatives, one of which is a youth delegate. Youth are generally considered to be between 18 and 29 years of age. Reimbursement is available to representatives travelling more than 32 km from their home to the Gathering as per below:
Meal Per Diems:
- No meal reimbursements will be provided.
- Breakfast and lunch will be provided at the Gathering.
Travel:
- Actual costs for flights (receipts are required).
- Transportation via taxi or public transit to and from the airport (receipts are required).
- Travel using personal vehicle will be reimbursed at $0.63/km.
Accommodation:
- Actual costs for hotel for up to two nights at a maximum rate of $265/night (receipts required).
- Participants are asked to book through hotel blocks at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel or Blue Horizon Hotel as the first choice for accommodation.
Private Accommodation
Attendees who choose to stay in private accommodation (for example, with friends or family who live locally) can claim $38.41 per night for up to two nights.
For travel to/from the Gathering from a private residence:
- The most cost-effective method must be used.
- All receipts must be kept for taxi charges and bus fees to be reimbursed.
- Tips paid on taxi receipts are personal costs and cannot be reimbursed.
- Parking fees can be claimed if you keep the receipt.
Submitting a travel reimbursement claim:
- For reimbursement, attendees must submit receipts along with a completed travel expense form to Rhianon Harrison (rhianon.harrison@gov.bc.ca) by March 20, 2026.
- Travel expense forms can be downloaded to print here:
Natural Resource Sector Non-Government Employee Travel Expense Claim (PDF, 150KB).
Making reservations
Participants are asked to book through hotel blocks at the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel or Blue Horizon Hotel. Please ensure to book early as the hotels have a designated number of rooms reserved. Hotel room blocks are open to First Nation delegates attending the Gathering.
Hotel: Coast Coal Harbour Hotel
Address: 1180 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, V6E 4R5
Reservations Phone: 604-697–0202 | toll free: 1-800-716-6199
Reservations can be made until October 6, 2025.
Hotel: Blue Horizon Hotel
Address: 1225 Robson Street. Vancouver, V6E 1C3
Reservations Phone: 604-688–1411
Reservations can be made until October 3, 2025.
Blue Horizon booking instructions:
- Go to the Blue Horizon official website: www.bluehorizonhotel.com
- Click the blue reservation box
- Select the exact arrival date and check out date and then click on Special Codes or Rates (under the check out date) and click to toggle to GROUP CODE: and enter the code BCC031125 (do not enter as promo code)
- Select the book now box and fill in the details and a confirmation email will automatically be sent.
For those not comfortable booking online, please call the Blue Horizon Reservations Department to book a room from the BCC031125 block or just ask to make a reservation for the BC Cabinet and First Nations Leaders’ Gathering over the phone at 604-688-1411.
Videography, photography & media
Information for media
Members of the media are welcome to attend FNLG’s media availability and witness the opening remarks the morning of day one and again for the closing remarks the afternoon of day two. More details on registration for these opportunities will be made available in the days prior to the event. In the meantime, media can express their interest in attending by emailing fnlg@pacegroup.com and kimberley.hudson@gov.bc.ca.
Should media wish to set up interviews with members of the First Nations Leadership Council, please contact the individual organization.
Should media wish to set up interviews with cabinet ministers, please contact the Government Communications and Public Engagement media liaison for that respective minister. Please see media contact list for media liaisons from government by ministry: https://news.gov.bc.ca/contacts
Information for delegations
Delegates and leaders interested in having personal photographers or videographers attend FNLG with a delegation or on an ad-hoc basis (to support documentaries, in-community use, social media etc), are asked to submit a request to the FNLC and the Province for permission. Please email fnlg@pacegroup.com and kimberley.hudson@gov.bc.ca by October 27, 2025.
If permitted, the photographer/videographer will be provided credentials at the media registration desk. The photographer/videographer should seek consent from any other individuals that will be included in photos/videos.
Delegates who would like to set up media interviews on site with their leadership should submit a request for media to access FNLG. Please email fnlg@pacegroup.com and kimberley.hudson@gov.bc.ca.