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What does economic reconciliation look like for Yukon’s mining sector and Yukon First Nations?
By Albert Drapeau, executive director of the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce
Since the Truth and Reconciliation
Committee released its six-volume final report in December 2015, First Nation Governments, Canada, Provincial and Territorial Governments, as well as Canada’s business communities are responding to the recommendations. Every Canadian has a role with implementing the recommendations, and for the business community, the challenge is learning that each First Nation government is unique, with specific engagement protocols. In other words, one size does not fit all.
Why? Based on my experience, each First Nation government has a responsibility for their people, land, water, fish and wildlife, health and wellness, education, and community services, just to name a few. Each are a priority, but, how does a First Nation government choose which priorities to focus on when all of them are needed and important? Again, in my experience, the leadership creates their strategic objectives, and the administration creates the work plans and budgets to deliver on the objectives that each department is responsible for. The challenge is working with a finite budget while meeting the First Nation obligations to their people and community.
that businesses can use as a guide to build their reconciliation framework. The recommendation is to review and identify what your company can do to build your reconciliation policy. Note that your company is not limited to only the three, but rather, you can work with the First Nation to develop other principles that mutually work for both parties.
The first principal described in Section 92 speaks to building respectful relationships. When projects are being considered within a First Nation’s traditional territory, mining companies can start by approaching the First Nation government and development corporation, and learning about their community’s priorities. They can share information about the project and communicate and work to develop a communication protocol to share information, decisions, and the roles of both parties within the project. It is very important to keep the communication lines open, to be seen in the community at events, and to share information with the community members. Being active within the community and interacting with community businesses and members fosters cultural awareness, community norms, and builds trust.
Training, education and employment are outlined as the second principle, and in this day and age, most companies across Canada are experiencing labour shortages. Working with the First Nation’s education and training department is a step in the right direction. In my experience, I have witnessed investments in people for apprenticeship opportunities, heavy equipment operators, and technicians. There is so much more potential for employment. Bringing awareness to the communities about the types of careers in the mining sector could resonate with the youth. Investment in people is crucial and is a benefit to the people and to the company. This type of investment has returns for people’s careers, supports families, and builds community while the project’s operations and production goals are met.
The third principal is about your company’s personnel, from senior management to entry-level employees becoming educated about the First Nation’s history, the impacts of residential school on the people, and the Yukon Final Agreements, to name a few. By engaging and taking the time to meet, to learn, and to be active in the community, you will begin to learn about the community and its customs, values, and challenges. Work with the First Nation and the crosscultural liaison or the communications department to develop educational sessions. In my First Nation, a booklet was developed to provide an overview of the First Nation’s governance structure, clans, and traditional laws. Although the brochure is an overview, it is a starting point to ask questions, to engage and to communicate.
First Nations have been impacted by past government policies and that impact can still be felt today; nevertheless, First Nations are moving forward. We understand that we need one another, we need to educate and learn from one another, and we know that working together we can partake in today’s economy and build a healthier and better life for our future generations. 7
