Indigenous rights question remains in Ottawa’s planned environmental assessment overhaul – CBC

Inclusion of Indigenous knowledge welcomed, but still concerns over proponents’ involvement in consultations

Feb 08, 2018

The chief of a First Nation that lost a court battle over consultation on an oil pipeline says he believes a bill unveiled Thursday could give Indigenous communities more clout over resource projects affecting their lands.

Chippewas of the Thames Chief Myeengun Henry said the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in the federal government’s proposed bill to completely overhaul the environmental assessment process could allow communities to apply their own priorities and standards in weighing a project.

“Indigenous communities with consultation protocols will have a major impact,” said Henry.

The Chippewas of the Thames lost a Supreme Court challenge of the National Energy Board (NEB) decision to approve Enbridge’s project to expand and reverse the flow of the Line 9B pipeline.

Read More: http://www.cbc.ca/news/indigenous/indigenous-rights-consultation-environment-assessment-1.4527355