Aboriginal Engagement: A Vision for the Future

Ben Bradshaw, Associate Professor University of Guelph

Acknowledgements: Expo Labrador; ArcticNet; and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

Expo Labrador – June 23/15

The Con Mine Shaft as visible from Dettah, NWT (1992)

Project Owner(s) IBA Signatories

Ekati Diamond Mine (producing as of Oct 1998)

BHP-Billiton

Tlicho Government (then Dogrib Treaty 11) (Oct. 1996) Lutsel K’e Dene FN (Nov. 1996) Yellowknives Dene FN (Nov. 1996) North Slave Métis Association (Jul. 1998) Kitikmeot Inuit Assoc. and the Inuit of Kugluktuk (Dec. 1998)

Diavik Diamond Mine (producing as of Jan 2003)

Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. (Aber Diamonds and Rio Tinto plc)

North Slave Métis Association (Mar. 2000) Tlicho Government (then Dogrib Treaty 11) (Apr. 2000) Yellowknives Dene FN (Oct. 2000) Kitikmeot Inuit Association (Sept. 2001) Lutsel K’e Dene FN (Sept. 2001)

Snap Lake Diamond Mine (producing as of 2010)

De Beers Canada Yellowknives Dene FN (Nov. 2005) Tlicho Government (Mar. 2006) North Slave Métis Association (Aug. 2006) Lutsel K’e Dene FN (June 2007)

Yellowknives Dene’s subsequent involvement with 3 mines….

Positive Impacts (from the annual ‘Communities and Diamonds’ reports)

Average annual change (over the

period 1989-2007)

Impacted Aboriginal

Communities

Northwest Territories

Canada

Income +6.98% +3.20% +3.90%

Taxfilers with more than $50,000 income

+1.37% +1.17% +0.93%

Unemployment rate -1.06% -0.16% -0.23%

Percentage with high school education

+0.56% +0.40% +0.90%

Number of businesses +0.62% +0.005% -

AVERAGE 2.12% 0.99% 1.49%

Upper Churchill Falls/Patshetshunau

Voisey’s Bay project

(necessary) Project Timelines

•  1993: Diamond Fields’ discovery of nickel within an area subject to outstanding claims by Inuit and Innu

•  1995: IBA negotiations with Innu and Inuit begin (though 2nd priority to Land Claims)

•  Early 1997: Four Party MOU signed for EA process

•  Late 1997: Inuit and Innu protest at site and seek court injunction to stop substantive construction before EA

•  2002: IBAs with Inuit and Innu concluded (Inuit shipping agreement followed in 2005, with start of operations)

Aboriginal Engagement today

•  Lower Churchill Falls Development

•  IBAs as de facto regulatory requirements

•  International Pressure for Indigenous rights to FPIC

•  Truth and Reconciliation Report Recommendations

•  Etc. A competiveness challenge or opportunity?

Take-Aways •  Creating and maintaining progressive Aboriginal relations

is the only route forward

•  This is a job that falls to all parties; and, when achieved, should be celebrated by all parties

•  In a world where consumers are increasingly conscious of their products’ origins, progressive relations can serve to create market opportunities for producers

Aboriginal Engagement: A Vision for the Future

Ben Bradshaw, Associate Professor University of Guelph

Acknowledgements: ArcticNet; and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

Labrador Expo – June 23/15