Indigenous Rights and Environmental Assessment in Canada

Environmental assessment (EA) – the federal, provincial and territorial policy planning tool for deciding on industrial developments – is contentious and under review. Despite increased consideration of Indigenous rights and title as part of the EA process, articulation of concerns with decision-making and significance determination is not evident. In the absence of alternatives, EA is coming to better reflect Indigenous governance and decision-making. Our proposal builds on Firelight’s expertise working for First Nations to assert rights and title in EA processes. An examination of Indigenous based EA is timely given an ongoing federal review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Under Firelight’s direction, Dr. Hoogeveen will examine innovative EA managed and implemented by Indigenous Governments. She will do this through an examination of Indigenous controlled models of EA through the analysis of four case studies. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Terre Satterfield

Student:

Partner:

The Firelight Group

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: