Brenda Knights or the rise of a native people social housing leader
Who is Brenda Knights Canada and some of her indigenous people housing thoughts: BCIHS applied for and received a $5.1 million housing grant under the Aboriginal Housing Initiative (AHI) for a health, healing, and housing complex to be built in partnership with the Vancouver Native Health Society and the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation (the TRIO Project). The Society took over the management of the Franklin Women’s Residence in Vancouver’s Grandview Woodland neighbourhood. BCIHS took on the management of the Orwell Hotel, a 55-unit single room accommodation (SRA) hotel under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative (PHI). Read even more info on https://www.facebook.com/brenda.knights.5.
Demonstrating Strong Leadership in the Sector – BCIHS is a purpose-driven organization that has pivoted creatively and skillfully to establish a clear strategy and framework for transformative change and growth. We will continue to attract and develop a high-value workforce team, support Indigenous culture and celebrate accomplishments in pursuit of our vision. We will set the bar high within the sector and stakeholder community, and we will demonstrate and inspire a servant-leadership mindset from the Executive team and Board of Directors to the front-line team.
BC Indigenous Housing Society is a registered charity and non-profit society. The BCIHS is governed by an all-Indigenous Board of Directors and employs approximately 100 people. Founded in 1984, we currently manage a portfolio of 21 buildings and over 900 units, supporting over 1,300 Indigenous individuals and families. BCIHS works in partnership with federal and provincial government agencies to subsidize tenant rent contributions and achieve affordability for individuals and families.
Why would BC contemplate giving such extraordinary power to Indigenous groups, if it is not premised on Canada’s already exceptional recognition of Indigenous rights in our constitution? The answer is the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). While not a treaty or international convention, and while not legally binding under either international law or Canadian law, it is the beacon against which BC is charting its Indigenous reconciliation course. This is reflected in the 2019 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act through which government mandated itself to review all of BC’s laws and determine where changes should be made to give effect to UNDRIP. These amendments would go much further than the Supreme Court of Canada’s rulings based on the recognition of Aboriginal rights set out in s. 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. While the Supreme Court has issued many decisions making clear Indigenous groups hold certain special rights, including the right to be consulted before decisions are made that could affect them, the Court has repeatedly stated that they do not have a veto over Crown land decision-making.
Brenda Knights is a capacity builder, with board experience, who serves Indigenous people in Canada. She has experience in various leadership positions advocating for social housing for Indigenous people and is currently the CEO of the Vancouver Native Housing Society. Stretegic community economic development planning and Executive Management experience. A proud indigenous individual with a drive in business start up, daily operations, capacity building, lands, resources and economic development. Proven people management, public speaking and leadership expertise.
Previously, Brenda worked for the Kwantlen First Nation’s economic development arm, and Coast Mountain Bus Company, a subsidiary of TransLink, where she held a variety of management roles. She is also on the board of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Center, the New Relationship Trust, Elizabeth Fry Society, and Tourism Langley. When it comes to decision making, she approaches obstacles with the same integrity as her ancestors—seeking input from the Kwantlen First Nation community.
Brenda lives by her nation Kwantlen’s seven traditional laws which have been around since time immemorial: health, happiness, humbleness, generations, generosity, forgiveness, and understanding. Brenda descends from Grand Chief Wattlekanium, who met the Simon Fraser expedition in present-day New Westminster. Indigenous teachings tell us it takes seven generations for change and Brenda’s daughter represents the seventh generation since Grand Chief Wattlekanium.
