First Nations Major Projects Coalition

First Nations Major Projects Coalition
Name	First Nations Major Projects Coalition
Formation	2005
Type	Indigenous industry association
Location	Canada
Headquarters	Vancouver, British Columbia
Region served	Canada
Membership	First Nations communities and councils

First Nations Major Projects Coalition The First Nations Major Projects Coalition is a Canadian Indigenous organization formed to enable coordinated participation by Indigenous communities in large-scale resource development projects in Canada. It serves as a collective vehicle to engage with industry actors such as Teck Resources, Suncor Energy, and Enbridge, and with public bodies including Natural Resources Canada, British Columbia Ministry of Energy, and regulatory tribunals such as the National Energy Board and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. The Coalition operates at the intersection of Indigenous rights affirmed by the Royal Proclamation of 1763, legal frameworks such as Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and regulatory processes exemplified by landmark decisions like Delgamuukw v British Columbia and Tsilhqot'in Nation v British Columbia.

History

The Coalition was established in 2005 following dialogues among leadership from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council, and other Western Canadian communities responding to proposals by corporations including Shell Canada and Chevron Corporation. Early meetings involved interactions with provincial authorities like the Government of Alberta and federal institutions such as Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (now Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada). The group’s formation occurred amid contemporaneous developments including the expansion of projects like the Trans Mountain Pipeline and the controversy over the Northern Gateway Pipelines proposal. Legal and political contexts shaped its evolution, notably the influence of court rulings such as Haida Nation v British Columbia (Minister of Forests) and the emergence of international mechanisms like the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Mission and Objectives

The Coalition’s stated mission focuses on enabling equitable participation of Indigenous communities in major resource projects advanced by firms such as Imperial Oil and Fortis Inc., ensuring benefits through impact benefit agreements and participation models employed in the LNG Canada and Syncrude developments. Objectives emphasize negotiating commercial arrangements, safeguarding Aboriginal and treaty rights under instruments like Treaty 8 and Douglas Treaties, and engaging with regulatory processes such as hearings before the Canadian Environmental Assessment Commission. The organization aims to bridge relationships among Indigenous business entities, tribal councils such as the Nisga'a Lisims Government, and proponents like Pembina Pipeline Corporation, while responding to jurisprudence from courts including the Supreme Court of Canada.

Governance and Membership

Governance has involved a board drawn from chiefs and elected representatives of participating communities including members from the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council and the Coast Salish peoples; corporate advisers and legal counsel have included practitioners experienced with cases like R v Sparrow. Membership models ranged from individual First Nations bands such as the Squamish Nation and Coast Tsimshian communities to regional organizations including the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs. Administrative headquarters were established in Vancouver, with operational links to regional offices near hubs like Calgary and Edmonton. The Coalition’s governance structures were informed by fiduciary issues litigated in matters like R v Marshall and policy frameworks developed by entities such as the Assembly of First Nations.

Activities and Services

The Coalition provided services including project assessment, negotiation support, benefit-sharing structuring, and procurement facilitation for members engaging with companies like Kinder Morgan and Cenovus Energy. It coordinated technical reviews drawing on expertise from consultants active in fields related to projects like the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline and engaged with regulatory processes including environmental assessments under statutes such as the now-reformed Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The organization supported capacity-building through training programs similar to initiatives by the Indigenous Services Canada and partnered with academic institutions like the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University for research on impacts and economic participation.

Major Projects and Partnerships

The Coalition engaged with energy and mining undertakings including pipeline proposals like the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, liquefied natural gas projects such as LNG Canada, and mining operations akin to Teck Highland Valley Copper expansions. Partnership arrangements often involved proponents including ExxonMobil affiliates and project financers such as the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and included negotiations over impact benefit agreements reminiscent of accords with the Voisey's Bay project. The Coalition interfaced with provincial development initiatives in British Columbia, interactions around resource extraction in Northern Canada, and collaborations with legal firms that had represented parties in disputes like Clyde River (Hamlet) v. Petroleum Geo-Services Inc..

Criticism and Controversies

The Coalition attracted criticism from organizations such as the Coast Salish Gathering and activists aligned with movements like Idle No More for allegedly privileging commercial arrangements with firms like TransCanada over grassroots opposition to projects including Enbridge Northern Gateway. Critics cited concerns raised in reports by groups such as Amnesty International Canada and community-led actions similar to those in Oka Crisis-era activism. Debates referenced jurisprudential themes from cases like R v Gladstone regarding Indigenous economic rights and invoked scrutiny from environmental groups including Greenpeace Canada and David Suzuki Foundation over treaty obligations and environmental assessments. Accusations included claims about representation, transparency, and conflict of interest, prompting investigations paralleling public inquiries such as the Gomery Commission in their focus on governance accountability.

Category:Indigenous organizations in Canada