ID: 2064
Presenting Author: Nidhi Singh
Session: 542 - Are We Living in the Post-Consultation Era?
Status: pending
The presenters share how pre-engagement can build trust, and support inclusive, transparent and community-led participation in the strategy development process.
The Nunavut Water Management Strategy (NWMS) is intended to be the first territory-wide, Inuit-led, Inuit-driven policy to bring together existing freshwater management approaches and mandates under one cohesive umbrella. In this presentation, the Steering Committee tasked with developing the NWMS shares their recent experience with pre-engagement activities identified by Regional Inuit Associations as foundational to building the trust necessary to advance Strategy development. At the forefront of pre-engagement activities is the need to develop a Strategy that is informed by Inuit knowledge and values, and that reflects of Nunavut’s unique setting. “Setting the Table” refers to the intentional preparation taken before the formal engagement process begins—where relationships, expectations, and understanding are cultivated.
The presentation emphasizes three key principles for effective pre-engagement. First, the engagement process must be tailored to each community’s expressed needs and values. There is no universal template for appropriate engagement, and meaningful engagement begins by listening to what communities want. Second, flexibility and adaptability must be built into the engagement process. As relationships evolve and new information or misinformation emerges, pre-engagement strategies must be responsive and open to change and clarification. Third, transparency and context-setting are critical. Providing clear background information and being upfront about intentions, limitations, and processes helps establish a shared understanding and sets the stage for respec
Nidhi Singh is a technical advisor with the Nunavut Water Board, where she and her team have led community consultations across Nunavut that will inform the territorial water management strategy.
Coauthor 1: Jesse O'Brien