Successful Community Strategies
for Engaging with Resource
Extraction Companies
P. Jerry Asp
Successful Tahltan Strategies
Tahltan Resources Development Policy
1. assurance that the development will not pose a threat of irreparable
environmental damage;
2. assurance that the development will not jeopardize, prejudice or otherwise compromise the
outstanding Tahltan aboriginal rights claim;
3. assurance that the project will provide more positive than negative social impacts on Tahltan
people;
4. provision for the widest possible opportunity for education and direct employment-related
training for Tahltan people in connection with the project;
5. provision for the widest possible employment opportunities for Tahltan people with respect to
all phases of the development;
6. provision for substantial equity participation by Tahltans in the total project;
7. provision for the widest possible development of Tahltan business opportunities over which the
developer may have control or influence;
8. provision for the developer to assist the Tahltans to accomplish the objectives stated above by
providing financial and managerial assistance and advice where deemed necessary.
Tahltan Heritage Resource Environmental
Assessment Team (THREAT)
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Metal Leaching/Acid Rock Drainage,
Wildlife and Ecosystem Mapping,
Fish and Navigable Waters,
Water Quality and Management,
Access Road and Transmission Lines,
Mine Planning, Operations and Closure,
Social and Culture,
Legal,
Heritage,
Economic,
Cumulative Impacts,
Administrative, and
Training.
Principles of Operation
“The Tahltan have an inherent responsibility, as
stewards of their lands and resources, to
ensure that any use or development of those
lands and resources is carried out in a
sustainable and responsible manner in order
to preserve their ability to continue to use and
occupy their territory and to protect their
culture and economies.”
Mission
To protect our aboriginal rights and title and to
ensure that the principles of the 1910 Declaration
of the Tahltan Tribe and the Tahltan Resource
Development Policy are being met through active
participation.
To make changes in the way mining exploration is
done in Tahltan territory and to take the
leadership role in improving the way mining
operations are being conducted.
To continue the Tahltan way of life by protecting our
values. These include:
Recognizing the importance of Tahltan spirituality: we
are all connected
Valuing our connection to the land,
Demonstrating our value and respect for other beings,
namely the fish/wildlife,
Realizing that “we belong to the land”,
Supporting our bonds, kinship, roots, and belonging.
Respect each other: Tahltans will show respect for all
people and Beings. We will practice our beliefs and
show respect by asking permission, using all that we
take and not wasting, sharing what we take, providing
offerings, and leaving things properly.
Responsibilities
1. To represent the Tahltan Nation in all resource
development projects through active participation in the
Environmental Assessment process.
2. To actively participate in the development of
regulatory applications submitted by resource
development corporations seeking resource development
opportunities in Tahltan territory.
3. To critically review data and studies published related
to various resource development projects for each of the
fields outlined as defined by THREAT.
4. To assist in the development of a response to each of
the respective fields that can be submitted on behalf of
the Tahltan Nation to the Environmental Assessment
office.
5. To increase capacity within the Tahltan Nation through
the development and distribution of resource materials
on the various aspects of resource development
projects within the respective fields defined by THREAT.
6. Conduct research in the various fields as outlined to
assist in the development of Tahltan mining policy.
7. Planning and delivering training workshops on the
various fields as defined by THREAT to increase
capacity within the Tahltan Nation.
8. To participate in internal Tahltan consultation within
our communities.
Seven Questions to Sustainability
1. Engagement – Are engagement processes in place and working effectively?
2. People – Will people’s well-being be maintained or improved?
3. Environment – Is the integrity of the environment assured over the long
term?
4. Economy – Is the economic viability of the project or operation assured,
and will the economy of the community and beyond be better off as a
result?
5. Traditional and Non-markets Activities – Are traditional and non-market
activities in the community and surrounding area accounted for in a way
that is acceptable to the local people?
6. Institutional Arrangements and Governance – Are rules, incentives,
programs, and capacities in place to address project or operational
consequences?
7. Synthesis and Continuous Learning – Does a full synthesis show that the
net result will be positive or negative in the long term, and will there be
periodic reassessments?
Our report, “Out of Respect”, from this forum, was released on January 28,
2004 at the Cordilleran Roundup in Vancouver. I don’t have any copies to
hand-out today, but if anyone is interested you can find this report on the
internet at www.iisd.org.
Tahltan Mining Strategy
1. Send a signal that Tahltan people are supportive of mining and mineral
activity on their land under conditions that such activities are respective of
Tahltan concerns and lead to a fair distribution of costs, benefits, and risks to
implicated parties.
2. Facilitate Tahltan participation in mining and mineral activities - not only
through direct and indirect employment, but also in terms of overall
management/co-management as well as the broad perspective of seeing a fair
distribution (considering all participating interests) of all benefits, costs, and
risks.
3. Ensure that the broad range of concerns raised in the "Seven Questions to
Sustainability'' are addressed, in particular the health/social/cultural and
environmental implications of mining/mineral activity; and
4. Ensure that in the future, mining and mineral activities in Tahltan Traditional
Territory are a win-win for all implicated interests – the Tahltan people,
mining/mineral interests, governments, and others.
The mining industry should develop
sensitivity to First Nations Societies by;
• become informed on First Nations Rights from a legal
perspective as expressed in recent court decisions;
• establishing engagement processes that reflect a
respect for First Nations and their traditional
territories;
• taking cross-cultural training to ensure that the
company has the capacity to build the needed
relationships with First Nation People; and
• committing to collaborative problem-solving
approaches with First Nation Peoples.
And so, in conclusion, Ladies and
Gentlemen
I will leave you with this brief overview and
look forward to answer any questions, you
may have, later in the program.
Ma Duh