By Cheryl Jahn

Indigenous participation in resource sector front and centre

Jan 20, 2023 | 3:49 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – She has been the face of discussion around First Nations involvement in the resource sector.

Chief Councillor Crystal Smith was speaking about the conflict around LNG Canada’s Kitimat LNG project at the time. And, once again, she was a presence at this week’s Natural Resource Forum, on a panel addressing progressive indigenous business initiatives. And a lot has changed in then, going from managing poverty to managing wealth.

“We’ve recently built the first ever youth center in our community, which is an absolute you think it’s an a tremendous accomplishment, seeing as that we’ve gone for so many years of of wanting to provide improved programs and services for our community to actually establishing infrastructure at our own desire and our own well, for our for our our youth of today and future generations.”

In fact, Indigenous participation in the resource sector was a predominant theme during the forum. And much has changed in recent years.

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“It’s hard to pinpoint what it is,” says Chris Roberts, Chief Councillor for the Wei Wai Kum Nation. “You know, I think it’s a combination of factors. Earlier was reference early court cases that have been just transformational as far as the directive of what must be done and how our title and the rights needs to be respected and appreciated. So with that in place as a new starting point, and that is to raise the bar, then it’s taken a long time, far longer than it should have.”

Smith says there has been a very strong buy-in, a new corporate culture around reconciliation and rights and title.

“And what we’re seeing today and as we move into the operations phase of LNG Canada, that’s becoming even more of an establishment is their true desire to have the Haisla culture incorporated into their corporate culture when they when they go into operations.”

“But you know, what else helps with this is coupled with the fact of these inescapable, undeniable truths of the history of this country and the treatment of indigenous people,” says Roberts.

And Smith says the success of the Haisla First Nation in its relationship with Coastal Gas Link and LNG Canada is not restricted to her community.

“But they’re actually have the ability to empower communities to partner with partnerships with neighboring first nations communities that allow that success that we’ve seen into into neighboring First nations communities as well.”