Without question, the practices of reclamation and remediation are one of the most important aspects of environmental work in the 21st century.  As we strive to rectify and rejuvenate damaged sites from human activities, the practices of reclamation and remediation can easily translate into our interpersonal and professional relationships with Indigenous communities across Canada.

Gary Pritchard is an established Environmental Project Manager at Curve Lake First Nation and provides his expertise in working with Indigenous communities. He is also a valued member of the Anishinaabe Nation. On November 28, 2017, Gary delivered an insightful webinar, Working with Indigenous People, and provides useful tips on how to establish a working relationship with Indigenous People that is respectful and allows them to reclaim their voice within today’s environmental issues.

Whether you are curious about Indigenous cultural practices or it is essential for you to engage with the Indigenous communities in your working life, here are some key take-away points that will assist you with your interactions. 

1. When in doubt, ask.

2. Inclusion and Involvement.

3. How aware are you?  
Before, during, and after each interaction with an Indigenous person or community, Gary asks us to evaluate ourselves and observe any concepts of Indigenous persons that may limit our working relationship. Here are a couple of questions that he posed in the webinar: Are you comfortable working with Indigenous people?

4. Less is More. While Gary makes many valuable points throughout his webinar, one of his most memorable and lasting messages is to reduce all formalities of regular business practices. 

Western business practice celebrates precision, timeliness, preparedness, and trails of paper copies and proposals. This is not the case for Indigenous business practices. This is not to say that there is no professionalism within Indigenous dealings, but their approach of conducting meetings and making deals is different from Western business.  

As Canada celebrated National Aboriginal Day on Thursday, June 21, 2018, we can clearly connect Gary’s suggestions for engaging with Indigenous People in a respectful and honourable manner. Applying the same concepts of remediation and reclamation used in environmental work, these terms are important concepts to use for empowering and including Indigenous communities in environmental decision-making and future partnerships.

Watch the full working with Indigenous peoples webinar on-demand.
Written by Veronica Nhukwete 

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Reconnaissance des terres

Dans un esprit de respect, de réciprocité et de vérité, nous honorons et reconnaissons Moh’kinsstis, le territoire traditionnel du Traité 7 et les pratiques orales de la confédération des Pieds-Noirs : Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, ainsi que les nations Îyâxe Nakoda et Tsuut’ina. Nous reconnaissons que ce territoire abrite la Nation métisse de l’Alberta, la région 3 au sein de la patrie historique des Métis du Nord-Ouest. Enfin, nous reconnaissons toutes les nations qui vivent, travaillent et se divertissent sur ce territoire, et qui l’honorent et le célèbrent.

Land Acknowledgment

In the spirit of respect, reciprocity and truth, we honour and acknowledge Moh’kinsstis and the traditional Treaty 7 territory and oral practices of the Blackfoot confederacy: Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, as well as the Îyâxe Nakoda and Tsuut’ina nations.
We acknowledge that this territory is home to the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, within the historical Northwest Métis homeland. Finally, we recognize all Nations who live, work and play on this land and honour and celebrate this territory.

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