Session 3 – Environmental Indigenous Consent

Indigenous lands are being impacted by global objectives to advance clean growth projects as part of the energy transition. In Canada, Indigenous environmental consent to major projects is a core component of decision-making in accordance with the principles of free, prior, and informed consent as described in the articles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. By having access to the tools that provide clarity and efficiencies to the decision-making process, Indigenous nations can lead environmental processes and influence process outcomes for future clean growth projects in a manner that respects rights and interests. This panel will discuss the development of a new FNMPC member-led tool called the Cultural Rights Toolkit and how the principles of the toolkit can be applied by First Nations during regulatory and negotiation processes to address major project impacts and cumulative impacts on the cultural rights of Indigenous nations as a means of informing historical gap areas of major project assessment processes

Launch of the FNMPC Cultural Rights Toolkit

Introduction by: John Hannaford, Clerk of the Privy Council, Government of Canada

» Angel Ransom (Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation), Senior VP, Environmental Services FNMPC
» Jennifer Bennett (Wiikwemkoong Nation), Client Program Manager & Senior Environmental Engineer, Arcadis
» Deputy Grand Council Chief Mel Hardy (Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek), Northern Superior Region – Anishinabek Nation
» Terence Hubbard, President, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada
» Moderator: Scott Smith, Partner, Gowling WLG