As the nation’s leading think tank on the issues surrounding Indigenous peoples and resource development, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute understands that the key to future prosperity, opportunity and reconciliation is forming strong, long-term relationships between industry, government and Indigenous communities. We all want to see investment proceed. We need to work together to make it happen.
Indigenous communities need to be consulted when a pipeline is intended to cross their traditional territory, but also when a pipeline is blocked, oil tankers are banned, or exploratory drilling is curtailed. Many Indigenous leaders are becoming increasingly concerned that actions that have an economic impact on Indigenous peoples are not being taken nearly as carefully as decisions that affect the environment.
There is a lot of innovation and entrepreneurship going on. Indigenous peoples are finding new ways to capitalize on the economic opportunities provided by the resource sector.
To shed light on these issues, on November 29, 2018, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute organized an important gathering to explore how comprehensive consultation with Indigenous communities is needed to protect the environment yes, but also the economic opportunities from development that many Indigenous communities will rely on for their economic future.
Speakers:
- Stephen Buffalo, President and CEO, Indian Resource Council
- Sean Willy, President and CEO, Des Nedhe Development
- Theresa Tait-Day, Founding Member, First Nations Major Projects Coalition
- Dwight Newman, MLI Munk Senior Fellow and professor of constitutional law at University of Saskatchewan (video)
A few photos of the event can be seen below. Our photo gallery can be found here.
