Indigenous People and Mining in Canada

Indigenous People and Mining in Canada PAUKTUUTIT INUIT WOMEN OF CANADA

JULY 30, 2015

Overview

u  Indigenous People in North America

u  Indigenous People in Canada

u  The Inuit context

u  Impacts of mining in Inuit communities

u  The strategies of mining companies

u  Ongoing challenges

u  Key successes

Indigenous Peoples in North America

u  Canada: more than 1.4 million

u  Inuit

u  First Nations

u  Metis

u  United States: more than 5 million

u  American Indian Tribes: over 35 distinct groups

u  Inuit

u  Yupik

u  Hawaiian Native

u  Mexico: more than 15 million

u  Over 60 distinct groups

Indigenous Peoples in Canada

Inuit •  59,500

•  4 regional homelands spread across the Arctic

•  Language: Inuktitut

•  Greatest autonomy in managing traditional lands and environment

First Nations •  852,000

•  More than 600 unique groups spread across Canada

•  Language: more than 60

•  Indian reserve system managed by the federal government

Metis •  452,000

•  Spread across central and western Canada

•  Language: Michif

•  Most urbanized Indigenous group

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada

u  National voice for Inuit women

u  Established 1984

u  14-member Board of Directors representing:

u  Inuit Nunangat

u  Urban centres

u  Youth

u  Main areas of work:

u  Health

u  Abuse Prevention

u  Socio-Economic Development

The Inuit Context

•  5 mines in operation

•  More than 20 exploration sites

•  Encouraged by Canadian government as source of economic development

•  Approved through environmental assessment process

•  Managed by regional Inuit governments

Impacts of Mining in Inuit Communities

u  Employment and income

u  Workplace issues

u  Family relations

u  Addictions

u  Violence against women

u  Environmental impacts

u  Socio-cultural concerns

Strategies of Mining Companies

Federal Government •  Support economic

development in rural North

•  Build Canada’s export base

•  Canadian economy focused on natural resources

•  Royalties

Regional Inuit Governments •  Impact Review Boards

•  Negotiate Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreements

•  Procurement

•  Employment

•  Administer royalties funding

•  Corporate lawyers vs limited capacity

Inuit Communities •  Provide jobs and income in

areas of high unemployment

•  Invest funds in developing the community

•  Highly scientific reporting on expected impacts

•  Hire local Inuit as community liaisons

Ongoing Challenges and Vulnerabilities

u  High unemployment

u  Low educational attainment

u  Overcrowded housing

u  Food insecurity

u  Poor health outcomes

u  Recent transition to living in permanent settlements

u  Dislocation of traditional knowledge

Key Successes

u  Pauktuutit research in Baker Lake

u  Kiggavik environmental assessment

u  Clyde River awareness and collaboration

u  Nunavik uranium hearings

u  Baffinland Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement

Ma’na! Quana! Nakurmiik! Qujannamiik!

Thank you!

For more information:

Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada

Pauktutit.ca