Traditional Knowledge

Studies New Brunswick First Nation

Consultation ConferenceMarch 26, 2014Fredericton, NB

Ave Dersch, PhD

Moccasin Flower Consulting Inc.

Traditional Knowledge

“Traditional Knowledge” (TK) is used to describe the knowledge that is held by, and unique to, Aboriginal peoples.

TK includes ecological knowledge about the land, plants and animals, cultural values, social institutions and relationships, ideologies, livelihood practices, spiritual beliefs, subsistence technologies, land and resource use and management practices, and, oral stories and myths.

Traditional Land and Resource Use

“Traditional Land and Resource Use” (TLU) information is a subset of traditional knowledge that is particularly valuable for assessment of Project impacts on Aboriginal communities.

TLU information consists of patterns, locations and values associated with the long-term use and occupancy of traditional lands by an Aboriginal group.

Examples may include hunting, fishing, trapping, gathering areas as well as the location of camps, cabins, graves, and spiritual and cultural locations

Standard TLU Study Steps

Open house hosted by proponents Scoping and study planning Interviews and desktop TLU mapping Fieldwork and ground-truthing Reporting Community Verification

TLU Mapping

In current environmental assessment practice in Canada, TLU

studies: Inform the Crown’s assessment of the impact of a proposed

project on Aboriginal communities and their constitutionally protected rights.

Describe the TK and TLU of an Aboriginal community in respect to a proposed project.

Collect, document, and share TK and TLU with project proponents and their consultants to enhance environmental assessments and satisfy proponent’s regulatory requirements.

Assess the impacts of a proposed industrial project on TLU particular to an affected Aboriginal community.

Identify preferred means by which the impacts of a project may be addressed from the perspectives of the affected Aboriginal community.

TLU Lessons Learned from Alberta

Don’t lose site of the big picture…think about sustaining rights in the traditional territory

Collect TLU data consistently and store it properly from day one

Don’t over interview knowledge holders, be strategic – not all TLU studies look alike, keep evolving and filling gaps

Do it for regulatory reasons AND for the community- strike a balance