Advancing the participation of Indigenous Peoples
Text Version
We envision…
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Resulting in… Increased economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and supporting the process of reconciliation |
What is the goal of the Strategic Direction?
- Increased economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples
- More mutually beneficial relationships in how resources are managed and how benefits are shared
- Support the process of reconciliation
What are the pan-Canadian Initiatives?
A main focus and pan-Canadian initiative underway is the delivery of conferences on Indigenous procurement in mining across Canada, in partnership with Indigenous business leaders and organizations and provinces and territories. These individual conferences are tailored to reflect the expertise, priorities, and realities of mineral development in each host region.
They aim to increase economic opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and communities and support Indigenous and local business development by equipping them with the expertise needed to secure contracts and enter into various agreements. These conferences facilitate mutually beneficial conversations with industry and other stakeholders and provide information to support Indigenous business development and entrepreneurship.
Following the conferences, a compendium of best practices, success stories and case studies will be published.
Areas for action
Respecting rights: Governments should have tools available to help industry be aware of Aboriginal and treaty rights when undertaking and advancing mineral exploration and mining and ensure that they are at the forefront of relationships.
Meaningful engagement: Industry, Indigenous Peoples and governments should advance opportunities for meaningful engagement, ensuring they are culturally appropriate and undertaken at the earliest possible stage.
Indigenous women: The federal, provincial and territorial governments, stakeholders and Indigenous Peoples should support the greater participation of women in engagement processes and the mining industry, including by eliminating barriers to employment and increasing women in leadership roles.
Capacity building: Indigenous communities should have resources to meaningfully represent their interests and to pursue employment and business opportunities.
Economic benefits: Industry and governments should explore economic benefit sharing, including long-term benefits such as skills training, employment, business development, and Indigenous procurement plans.
Key actions and resources
To advance opportunities for meaningful engagement on potential projects at the earliest possible stage and in a culturally aware manner:
- Mineral Development Strategy (N.W.T., Y.T.)
- A mining memorandum of understanding with First Nations (Y.T.)
- Collaboration with Yukon First Nations on procurement policy (Y.T.)
- Community Engagement Support Program (Nvt.)
- Manitoba-First Nations Mineral Development Protocol (Man.)
- Native Community Consultation Policy Specific to the Mining Sector (Que.)
- A mining consultation table and a consultation matrix with the Mi’kmaq (Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office) (N.S.)
- Capacity to conduct meaningful consultations with Indigenous communities to support economic participation in natural resource sectors (Can.)
- The Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Indigenous and Community Relationships Protocol (Assoc.)
- Mining Industry Human Resources Council’s (MiHR) Mining Essentials Program, including for Indigenous youth (Assoc.)
- Industry-led skills development standard and training program addressing recommendations in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report (Assoc.)
To support and encourage Indigenous Peoples and communities to realize long-term socio-economic benefits that support communities and sustainable mineral development projects:
- Socio-economic agreements (N.W.T.)
- The Nunavummi Nangminiqaqtunik Ikajuuti Inuit Firm Registry (Nvt.)
- Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (Alta.)
- Northern Procurement Provisions Within Surface Lease Agreements in Northern Saskatchewan (Sask.)
- Promotional opportunities through the Business Development Office of the Société du Plan Nord (Que.)
- Futurpreneur Canada funding to support Indigenous entrepreneurs (Can.)
- Development of a new national benefits-sharing framework for major resource projects on Indigenous territory (Can.)
- Mining Information Webinars for Indigenous Communities
To enhance resources for capacity building to support Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the mining industry:
- Regional Indigenous mineral development strategies (N.W.T.)
- Work Readiness Training Program (Nvt.)
- Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (Alta.)
- Partnership with Northlands College and the University of Saskatchewan for geology students to complete their first year in northern Saskatchewan (Sask.)
- Assistance program for Indigenous mineral exploration funds (Que.)
- Customized mining training programs for Indigenous candidates at N.B. community colleges (N.B.)
- Procurement Strategy for Aboriginal Business (Can.)
- Communities Opportunity Readiness Program and a Skills and Partnership Fund (Can.)
- Indigenous gender-based analysis (Can.)
- A First Nations Centre of Excellence in Mining with Waubetek Business Development Corp. (Can.)
- A mineral sector certification to train Aboriginal economic development officers in partnership with the Council for the Advancement of Native Development Officers (Can.)
- MiHR’s work with Employment and Social Development Canada’s on the Student Work Placement Program (Assoc., Can.)
- MiHR’s work with Employment and Social Development Canada’s on the Sectoral Initiatives Program (Assoc., Can.)
- The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s Capacity-Building Funding Tool for Indigenous communities (Assoc.)