New peer-reviewed paper released

Against the backdrop of British Columbia’s recent consideration of UNDRIP into legislation, and conflict between Canada and Indigenous Nations/hereditary leaders over pipeline development (e.g. Coastal Gas Link and Trans Mountain projects), this week we published a new peer-reviewed paper by a team of both non-Indigenous and Indigenous researchers.

The research identifies several obstacles to improving how the federal Impact Assessment Act incorporates Indigenous Knowledge and engages with Indigenous Knowledge systems.

The paper details how federal decision-making processes are ‘inherently at odds’ with authentically engaging Indigenous Knowledge.

Without fundamental shifts in the way current policy relates to, engages, and recognizes the rights of Indigenous peoples and their knowledge, outcomes may continue to lead to conflict between federal and Indigenous governments.

Lauren Eckert, Raincoast Conservation fellow and Vanier Scholar, UVic PhD candidate

Photo of Howard Humchitt – Heiltsuk hunter and a key part of our bear research crew by April Bencze.