In today’s episode, our hosts, Cody Battershill and Lynn Exner, engage in a fascinating discussion regarding the involvement of Indigenous people in utilizing natural resources across Canada. Together, they clearly demonstrate that the consent of indigenous people and recognition of indigenous rights is vital not only to the economy but to the advancement of the country as a whole.

Cody and Lynn begin by diving into the involvement of First Nations in decisions surrounding natural resources in Canada and reviewing the perceived opposition of First Nations to large projects like the Trans Mountain Pipeline and The Coastal GasLink project. They go on to discuss the importance of finding a balance for all parties involved and the benefits of First Nations utilizing their resources. Our hosts also touch on the subject of consent and indigenous rights, shedding light on UNDRIP, FPIC, and the progress Canada has made in these matters. The episode concludes with their explanation as to why anti-development activists need to respect the decisions of First Nations concerning maximizing their resources and consenting to projects that will help all Canadians realize the highest possible quality of life and economic benefits. This episode was recorded on November 19th, 2021.

To learn more about supporting indigenous rights, please visit indigenousresourcenetwork.ca

Episode Highlights:

● Canada’s Trans Mountain Pipeline

● The impacts of large, linear projects on First Nations

● Finding the balance that benefits all parties

● The underlying reason for opposition to the Coastal GasLink project

● Discussing UNDRIP and Canada’s progress in including Indigenous Rights

● Dissecting Bill C-15, FPIC and the issue of consent from First Nations

● The importance of FPIC to all parties involved

● Examining the Ferry Creek protests

● Dissecting other case studies

Quotes:

“The majority of indigenous communities from every province and territory in Canada have chosen to engage, ensuring they can benefit economically while safeguarding the ability of future generations to enjoy the land and traditional way of life.”

“We are recognizing that we do need to be consulting with First Nations on their land, and that is terrific.”

“Industry has actually done a tremendous job, and they've spent years and years in consultation, and in creating those benefits agreements.”

“A lot of really important concepts came out of the Trans Mountain project itself in terms of advancing indigenous rights, but also understanding the complexity of these issues.”

“When we maximize the value of our resources, that is just simply the smart thing to do. And it funds and it helps all Canadians realize the highest possible quality of life and economic benefits.”

“The job of government, whether it be a First Nations government, whether it be local, provincial or federal, is to try to balance those two sides and then come down with what's going to be most beneficial.”

“Canada actually has set the gold standard for inclusivity of indigenous rights.”

“I feel like what we talk about with regards to indigenous rights is the right to say ‘No’ to a project...but what I feel is getting left behind so often in this discussion is the right to say ‘Yes’, to using your resources.”

“Anti-development activists have long used the concept of some indigenous people being opposed to development as if they're synonymous, and they are not synonymous.”

“You're not a supporter of democracy if you only like it when the decision falls in your favor.”

“The more complicated it gets to do business on First Nations land, the less likely they are to have these opportunities to develop their resources.”

“Indigenous-owned businesses are 40 times more likely to be engaged in resource development than the median Canadian business.”

Links:

Canada Action CanadaAction.ca