Relations between mining companies and Indigenous communities have been fraught in the past, with few of the benefits and most of the environmental impacts being passed on to the First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities whose territories were affected. Changes in Canada’s legal, political and business culture in the past twenty years, propelled by the advocacy and determination of Indigenous leaders across the country, have meant that the relationship has evolved. Yet popular conceptions of community-mining relations are still based on dated impressions that see all Indigenous people as anti-development victims.
This first in a series of webinars evaluated the current state of mining-Indigenous relations, where it has been and where it is going, through the perspectives of senior mining executives and Indigenous stakeholders. As the world looks for more sources of responsibly and sustainable resources, it is imperative that we get industry-Indigenous relations right.
Speakers
- Chief Christina Gilpin, Cree Nation of Wemindji
- Duane Favel, Mayor of Île-à-la-Crosse, Saskatchewan
- Darrel Burnouf, Manager, Business Development & Northern Affairs at Cameco Corporation
- John Mullally, Sr. Director of Sustainability & External Relations for Newmont Canada
- Moderator: Ken Coates, Distinguished Fellow and Director of MLI’s Indigenous Policy Program, Macdonald-Laurier Institute
