Leo Metatawabin

At the 2024 OAIA Conference, Omushkegowii Askiwii Manichedowin, a project to conserve mushkegowuk lands, was presented at its initial stages. One year on, the 2025 presentation will focus the work of a formal working group to engage community members, including elders, in a community led, council supported, process. For 2025/2026, the working group would prioritize work in communities, emphasizing shared values and participation of elders, so as to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) calls to action, and follow the First Nations principles of ownership, control, access, and possession (OCAP). The overall objective of the work is to create a resource toolkit and community led and housed impact assessment course. The expected outcome would be informed decision-making and meaningful participation for community specific project assessments; as well as capacity to build partnerships and lead assessments in the future.

Session Facilitator: Anjala Puvananathan