ID: 2264
Presenting Author: Alana Graham
Session: 700 - Indigenous-led and Jointly-led Regional Assessments in Canada
Status: pending
Mushkegowuk Council is building capacity for the Ring of Fire Regional Assessment, advancing Indigenous-led governance, and through training, data sovereignty, and land-based research.
The Mushkegowuk Council and its member First Nations are situated in one of the most ecologically and culturally significant regions of northern Ontario—an area now at the center of the proposed Ring of Fire mineral development. As a key participant in the ongoing Ring of Fire Regional Assessment (RA), Mushkegowuk Council has been working to ensure that the voices, rights, and knowledge systems of its communities are meaningfully reflected in this precedent-setting process.
This presentation will explore the Council’s journey to date, including early challenges in navigating an evolving federal-led process, securing adequate resources, and ensuring the RA reflects Indigenous jurisdiction, worldviews, and community priorities. It will highlight efforts to build regional governance structures, technical capacity, and knowledge-sharing systems that prepare communities not only for engagement in the RA, but also for future impact assessments and long-term monitoring.
The session will discuss how Mushkegowuk Council is developing culturally grounded assessment frameworks, data sovereignty protocols, and land-based research approaches that reflect the interconnectedness of people, lands, and waters. Drawing lessons from this experience, the presentation will emphasize the importance of Indigenous-led approaches, early and sustained community involvement, and the co-creation of regional knowledge foundations to support informed decision-making about development in the homelands of the Mushkegowuk Peoples.
Alana Graham supports Mushkegowuk Council’s environmental initiatives, advancing Indigenous-led assessment, community capacity building, and knowledge-sharing for meaningful participation in IA.
Coauthor 1: Troy Woodhouse