“Unless you get to know us, you’re not going to know our passion”: From consultation to co-management on Nadleh Whut’en First Nation Territory

• Published in: Canadian Planning and Policy / Aménagement et politique au Canada
• Main Authors: Rebecca DeLorey, Mark Groulx, Beverly Ketlo, Angel Ransom
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; French
• Published: Queen's University 2022
• Subjects: aboriginal consultation; forestry; indigenous co-management; indigenous knowledge; social learning; City planning; HT165.5-169.9; Political institutions and public administration (General); JF20-2112; Aesthetics of cities. City planning and beautifying; NA9000-9428; First Nations
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.24908/cppapc.v2022i1.14727; https://doaj.org/article/2114fd5c5a1d43e7b09cc1e9bccdf56d

In British Columbia, First Nation consultation is formally operationalized through land referrals, a system by which governments and industry proponents share information with First Nations about specific developments on their territories. Using the lenses of equal capacity, social learning, and Indigenous knowledge, this research examines land referrals processes on Nadleh Whut’en First Nation Territory to explore experiences with current consultation practices. Despite efforts to move towards equal decision-making authority over First Nation Territories, consultation remains a key aspect of Indigenous-Crown relations and it is critical that planners enhance their understanding of the duty to consult. Interviews with Nadleh Whut’en knowledge holders and land users and forestry key informants highlight deficiencies in the referrals process as a vehicle for engaging communities in decision making. Challenges include short timelines that manufacture false consent and a lack of cross-cultural dialogue centered on community values and needs. This research fills a gap by advancing understandings of the technical and procedural details of current consultation practice, including where it falls short in protecting Aboriginal rights and how such shortcomings impact people’s lives.