Improving First Nations' participation in environmental assessment processes: recommendations from the field

Abstract

This paper presents results from research into the perspectives on environmental assessments of Canadian indigenous peoples, in particular British Columbia's West Moberly First Nations, the Halfway River First Nation and the Treaty 8 Tribal Association. This collaborative project included interviews with First Nation government officials and staff as well as community members to determine their analyses of what worked and, more significantly, what did not work in engaging and consulting indigenous people. Based upon this research, six key recommendations, derived from First Nations' experiences, are made; these recommendations would facilitate First Nations' future participation in environmental assessment processes in British Columbia and Canada.

Keywords:

• First Nations
• environmental assessment
• consultation
• British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office
• Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
• Treaty 8 Tribal Association