Indigenous engagement
Early Indigenous engagement on policy development for the National Strategy has mostly been topic-specific. This includes community-level discussions and conversations with infrastructure-focused groups, along with some general engagement.
To support the National Strategy, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is expanding its outreach. We're launching new efforts to engage First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Canada on environmental justice and racism.
Engagement overview
Engagement with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples is helping shape a National Strategy on environmental justice and racism. The Strategy is guided by three key objectives that reflect Indigenous knowledge, lived realities, and rights.
These objectives include:
- better awareness of First Nations, Inuit and Métis knowledge and understandings of Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice
- explore potential mechanisms to assess, prevent, and address instances of Environmental Racism and advance Environmental Justice
- working to strengthen two-way communication and collaboration with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. This will help address environmental racism and advance environmental justice together
These objectives ensure that Indigenous perspectives directly shape the National Strategy. They inform how environmental justice and racism are understood, highlight First Nations, Inuit, and Métis priorities, and guide proposed actions.
Initial engagement is not formal consultation. It’s meant to help shape how the Government will meaningfully consult First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples on the Strategy.
Formal consultation on the National Strategy is planned for 2026.
Aamjiwnaang First Nation-ECCC Joint Committee on Environmental Justice
Aamjiwnaang First Nation is in “Chemical Valley,” an area in Ontario with over 60 petrochemical industrial sites. Community members of AAFN have longstanding concerns about air quality, and the impacts of long-term exposure to pollutants.
In 2023, senior officials from Environment and Climate Change Canada attended a summit hosted by Aamjiwnaang First Nation in Sarnia. The summit gave Aamjiwnaang First Nation a chance to share concerns about nearby industry and air quality issues. Their community is surrounded by “Chemical Valley,” which includes over 60 refinery and petrochemical sites in Sarnia, Ontario. Community members have long raised concerns about air pollution and the health impacts of long-term exposure to harmful substances.
Piloting a community-level approach to advancing Environmental Justice
In 2025, Aamjiwnaang First Nation and ECCC signed an agreement to create a Joint Committee. The Committee will support co-developing actions to advance environmental justice, focusing on air, water, and infrastructure. Lessons from this pilot project will be profiled in the National Strategy. These lessons will help guide future partnerships with other Indigenous communities on environmental issues.
Get involved
Virtual sessions focused on specific topics will invite input from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. These conversations will explore environmental justice, environmental racism, and ideas for shaping the National Strategy.
Engagement document: Indigenous environmental justice
What: Engagement documents are one-way governments share information and gather input from the public and interested groups. They help shape new laws, regulations, policies, or programs by inviting feedback early in the process.
The Indigenous Environmental Justice engagement document includes prompts to gather perspectives from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Input from the paper and related webinars will help shape the National Strategy.
When: Discussion Paper will be open from September 26, 2025 – December 12, 2025.
Access Here: Foundation 4: Indigenous Environmental Justice
Webinar
What: This webinar will provide a foundational introduction to environmental justice and racism, and the Act.
When: This webpage will be updated with the information for dates and registration soon.
Virtual Distinctions-Based Discussion Series Launch Events
What: Three virtual launch events will kick off the discussion series on environmental justice. Each event will focus on the unique perspectives and priorities of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
When: This webpage will be updated with the information for dates and registration soon.
- First Nations
- Inuit Webinar
- Métis Webinar
Topic-Based Virtual Discussion Series
What: A series of virtual events focused on specific topics related to environmental racism and environmental justice. These sessions will create space for focused dialogue with subject-matter experts and community voices.
- Discussion for those who participate in on-the-land and ice activities and/or are rural or remote.
- Date: This webpage will be updated with the information for dates and registration soon.
- Description: a focused discussion with those who participate in land-based cultural activities and/or live in rural/remote communities.
- Register: The registration link will be provided soon.
- Community Environmental Technical Leaders.
- Date: This webpage will be updated with the information for dates and registration soon.
- Description: a focused discussion with community leaders who help manage and protect the environment. This includes Land Managers, Guardians, Industry Representatives, and others involved in environmental monitoring and stewardship.
- Register: The registration link will be provided soon.
- Urban Indigenous Perspectives
- Date: This webpage will be updated with the information for dates and registration soon.
- Description: a focused discussion with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and organizations living and working in urban areas. This session will explore their unique perspectives on environmental justice and environmental racism.
- Register: The registration link will be provided soon.
- Academia and Indigenous Organizations.
- Date:This webpage will be updated with the information for dates and registration soon.
- Description: a series of panel discussions featuring Indigenous academics and representatives from Indigenous organizations. These conversations will explore Indigenous understandings of environmental justice and racism and share perspectives on how to advance environmental justice.
- Register: The registration link will be provided soon.
A note on funding
Currently, there isn’t a dedicated fund or program specifically for Indigenous engagement in developing the National Strategy.
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) provides core funding to support Indigenous representative organizations. This funding helps build capacity for these organizations to participate in government policy development and decision-making (Contributions to support the basic organizational capacity of Indigenous Representative Organizations).
Representative organizations with an interest in these topics are also encouraged to reach out to Environment and Climate Change Canada at EJ-JE@ec.gc.ca.