Indigenous Peoples

What are the benefits of impact assessments?

Indigenous Peoples have a deep connection to their lands, territories and resources. Your participation in impact assessments is essential to fully understanding the impacts of major projects.

Today’s federal impact assessment system provides opportunities for leadership, meaningful engagement with, and the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the assessment process, with the aim of securing your free, prior, and informed consent.

The implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is integral to the Impact Assessment Act.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has also published a Reconciliation Framework which outlines several commitments to help guide us in implementing UNDRIP and building meaningful relationships with Indigenous Peoples.

Let’s get specific

Early and meaningful consultation

IAAC is committed to engaging with Indigenous Peoples early and as often as needed in a nation-to-nation, government-to-government and Crown-Inuit way.

Impact assessments are informed by Indigenous Knowledge

Federal impact assessments require the mandatory consideration and protection of Indigenous Knowledge. Including Indigenous Knowledge in assessment processes strengthens the analysis of proposed projects, improves decision-making and contributes to better project outcomes for Indigenous Peoples and all Canadians. IAAC is committed to improving trust and transparency in how Indigenous Knowledge is considered, protected, and woven into impact assessments. Indigenous Peoples can also be assured their Indigenous Knowledge is protected and treated respectfully.

Indigenous Peoples can help set the parameters

IAAC commits to build and strengthen partnerships with Indigenous groups, including opportunities to collaborate and maximize Indigenous leadership in impact assessments. The Indigenous Engagement and Partnership Plan outlines opportunities and methods for meaningful consultation and engagement with potentially affected Indigenous Peoples throughout the impact assessment process. IAAC invites collaboration with Indigenous groups on Indigenous-led approaches to conducting assessments, including reflecting community-specific protocols, customs, and preferences throughout the impact assessment process.

We are committed to upholding Indigenous rights

The Government of Canada is committed to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Carrying out impact assessments in a manner that emphasizes the need to seek free, prior, and informed consent
• Maximizing Indigenous collaboration and partnership, including the advancement of regulations to enable agreements.
• Early, consistent, and meaningful engagement and participation through all phases of impact assessment
• Respect for Indigenous rights, culture and jurisdiction
• Mandatory consideration of Indigenous Knowledge in impact assessment
• Continually building Crown-Indigenous relations
• Supporting Indigenous capacity in impact assessment
• Consideration of health, social and economic factors, including impacts to women, youth and Elders
• Consideration of any cumulative effects that are likely to result from a designated project in combination with other physical activities that have been or will be carried out

Read more information on the impact assessment process and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Build capacity to better protect land and people

The Indigenous Capacity Support Program offers funding for Indigenous Peoples, communities, and organizations to help develop capacity for engaging and leading in consultations on project assessments, and regional and strategic initiatives. This funding also can be used to support learning about the impact assessment process in advance of a project review.

More collaborative assessments

The impact assessment process continues to promote collaboration between jurisdictions – which includes provinces, territories, and Indigenous communities – to support a single impact assessment process for major projects. Our objective is "one project, one review."

IAAC will work in consultation and collaboration with Indigenous partners to develop a policy and regulatory framework for Indigenous co-administration agreements. Once those regulations are in place, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change will be able to enter into agreements with Indigenous governing bodies and other eligible entities to take on powers, duties, and functions related to federal impact assessments on specified lands.

With recent changes to the impact assessment process, we are enhancing coordination with other jurisdictions including the use of cooperation agreements and the ability to "substitute" assessments with provinces and territories.

By having "one project, one review," the impact assessment will be more:

• efficient: reduced duplication, shared activities, joint documentation, and joint review panel
• predictable: a clear process, leading to a common understanding of the guidance and potential impacts

How do we get involved?

First, say: hello! ᐊᐃᖓᐃ! Boon zhour! Boozhoo! Tânisi! Waajiye! Kuei! Kwe'! Ɂedłanet'e!

Your participation is essential to fully understand the impacts of major projects.

If you ever want to reach out to us, we have crown consultation experts in offices to serve you in St. John’s, Halifax, Quebec, Toronto, Edmonton, and Vancouver.

You can find our contact details here: Contact the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Likewise, you can contact the Indigenous Partnership Division in Ottawa.

How do I prepare for an assessment?

• Read information on Indigenous Participation in impact assessments
• Read information on Why, how and when to participate in impact assessments
• Apply for financial assistance to participate in a project assessment or prepare for upcoming assessments
• Visit a project assessment webpage or our interactive geospatial map to review the current assessments for projects near you.
• Get free training to help you better understand and participate in impact assessments
• Talk to another Indigenous group that has finished an impact assessment process

Stay informed by

• Signing up for project assessment notifications
• Subscribing to the Our Impact Newsletter, dedicated to providing you with policy, guidance, regulatory development, and other opportunities for engagement beyond project assessments (you will be redirected to an external website to subscribe)
• Following us on social media