Critical Relationships Project Moving Forward with NRCan funding

Critical Relationships: Building an Indigenous-led Framework for Including Unexplored Values of Traditional Knowledge and Ecosystem Services into the Mining Industry

The Critical Relationships project will demonstrate how Indigenous-led environmental stewardship can enhance the management of natural resources and ecosystem services and create new economic opportunities in the mining sector. This will be done through the development of a framework for mineral exploration that braids scientific methodology with traditional ecological knowledge and establishes critical relationships between the natural environment, Indigenous communities, and the mining sector.  The framework will act as the foundation upon which a successful mining company may be built, working in true partnership with local Indigenous populations and ecological stewardship. The framework established is anticipated to be applied to current minerals operations and new mining regions.

The Global Indigenous Development Trust (GIDT) will be working together with its implementing partner Spirit Rock Resources Corp. (SRR), the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) representing three Tahltan communities – Dease Lake, Telegraph Creek and Iskut, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Green Feet Ecosystem Services (GFES), as well as other technical partners and advisors to achieve this goal. This project pulls from over 35 years of research and development that has already been shared with the mining sector, as well as thousands of years of living respectfully alongside the mining-rich resources of Tahltan Territory, which accounts for 1% of the world’s mineral resources and 11% of the land mass in BC. 

Over the course of two years, this project will showcase a new benchmark for environmental and Indigenous excellence by launching and maintaining an Indigenous approach to mineral exploration for the future of the Canadian mining sector.  

In the words of Tahltan Elder Jerry Asp, representing the people of his nation, “The question isn’t whether or not we will do this. We simply are.” The sustainability of both our Canadian economy and natural resources will not come from sustaining the approaches that have led us to where we are today. It is time to elevate our practices, together. 

If you are interested in collaborating to create greater a new way forward for our relationship with Mother Earth and her offerings, please contact us. We are currently raising public and private contributions for the development of this new approach in a few areas across Canada.