ID: 2185
Presenting Author: Priscilla Yohuno Yohuno
Session: 749 - Engaging Indigenous Nations for Inclusive Impact Assessments and Misinformation Response
Status: pending
Impact Assessment, Knowledge Mobilization, and Reporting: Best practices
The negative effects of resource extraction have disproportionately affected host communities, particularly remote and Indigenous people in the world (Antwi et al, 2025). Land and resources to Indigenous communities signify a convergence of life, health, and wellbeing and not only an ecological enclave within which they live. Imbibed in this sociological association with the environment is a socially constructed relationship which must be honoured (Watson, 2009). The fundamental appreciation of Indigenous worldviews on resource extraction and their connection to land should inform the design, practice, implementation and knowledge mobilization of impact assessment of resource development projects on their land. Evidence suggests that impact assessments often do not comprehensively and interactively address issues of relevance to Indigenous communities (see O'Faircheallaigh, 2015 and Antwi et al, 2025). This is primarily due to lack of comprehensive strategies for engagement of Indigenous people to understand their worldviews, perspectives, and philosophies when conducting work that could have adverse impacts on the Indigenous Nations who call the territory home. Recommendations to improve engagement, communication that minimizes misinformation and disinformation among indigenous people include the need to build strong connections and collaborations with Indigenous communities to understand their needs and ensure that research projects are relevant, respectful, and address community needs and priorities. We
Priscilla Toloo Yohuno is a policy analyst at Natural Resources Canada, where she works on inclusive science, cumulative effects, and impact assessment projects, as well as climate change initiatives.