ABORIGINAL ENGAGEMENTAssociation of Consulting Engineering Companies - BC – February 9, 2016
@TrinaWamboldt
@TrinaWamboldt
COAST SALISH TERRITORY
@TrinaWamboldt
the role of an engineer in
Aboriginal engagement
AND
tips for engineers
Thanks to:
• Tracey Rockwell, P. Eng.
• Jody Rechenmacher, P. Eng.
• Cameron Gatey, P. Eng.
• Jacob Scissons, P. Eng.
• Chad Fletcher, P. Eng.
• Lisa Clark, P. Eng.
• Grant Lachmuth, P. Eng.
@TrinaWamboldt
ABOUT URBAN SYSTEMS
• Privately held Inter-disciplinary consulting firm
• 400+ staff in 12 offices in Western Canada
• Working with Indigenous communities since 1975
• 2015 Alberta Business Awards – Aboriginal Relations Best Practices
@TrinaWamboldt
MISSION = VIBRANT COMMUNITIES
Urban Systems Ltd.
Professional Services
Urban Matters CCC
Community Research and
Innovation
Urban Systems
Foundation
Capacity Building
• Engineering
• Environment
• Land use
• Ec. Dev.
• Strategy
• Scholarships
• Financial
Sponsorships
• Partner with others
to drive innovation related to food
security, water,
affordable housing,
and employment
@TrinaWamboldt
ENGINEERS’ ROLES
1. Working with communities on behalf of industry/project proponents
2. Working with communities on behalf of governments
3. Working directly with/for Indigenous communities
@TrinaWamboldt
ENGINEERS’ ROLES
• Technical and design expertise
• Advocating for and following clear consultation and engagement processes
• liaison between communities and proponents and governments
• Building relationships on the front lines
• Helping to build capacity in communities
@TrinaWamboldt
NAVIGATE A COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT
environmental
social
economic
legal
political
technical
@TrinaWamboldt
TIPS FOR BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH COMMUNITIES
Photo courtesy of Treaty 8 Tribal Association
@TrinaWamboldt
#1. DIVERSITY
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#2. RESPECT
Siksika C and C 2014
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#3. INFLUENCE
“Meaningful Consultation can not be defined for Aboriginal Peoples, it must be defined by them. Each nation will have its own traditional law and customs to define the cultural nature and measures of success for Meaningful Consultation. However, the starting place is the same for the definition of
Meaningful Consultation in Aboriginal law in all Aboriginal Nations, it starts with Elders.”
Dr. Richard Herbert – CAID: Meaningful Consultation in Canada: The Alternative to Forced Aboriginal Assimilation, 2009
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#4. PRESENCE
Photo courtesy of Symbols Design Corp.
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#5. INDIGENOUS WORLD VIEWS
“The bush is our church” Treaty 8 BC Elder
Photo courtesy of Symbols Design Corp.
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#6. COMMUNICATION
Photos courtesy of Cook’s Ferry Indian Band
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#7. PRACTICAL DESIGN & PLANS
“Our new admin building has this fancy geo-thermal system but we can’t even adjust the temperature without having to call a technician to come from an hour away.”
@TrinaWamboldt
#8. RECONCILIATION
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#9. INVESTING BUILDS TRUST
. Leadership development
. Business mentoring & internships
. Resiliency programs for youth
. Truth & Reconciliation workshops
. Cultural programing
. Entrepreneurial training
Photo Source of Flickr Creative Commons
@TrinaWamboldt
EXTRACTING WITH PURPOSE
https://www.sharedvalue.org/
“COMPANIES THAT EMBED SOCIAL
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES INTO THEIR
CORE BUSINESS STRATEGY WILL
FINANCIALLY OUTPERFORM COMPANIES
THAT DON’T “
MICHAEL PORTER AND MARK KRAMER
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL
@TrinaWamboldt
#10. START NOW!
http://www.ictinc.ca/team
Photo courtesy of Treaty 8 Tribal Association
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BAD TIMING?
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COMPANIES CAN’T AFFORD TO NOTBUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Consult consent
@TrinaWamboldt
RESOURCES
• Bob Joseph’s blog and training Indigenous Corporate Training http://www.ictinc.ca/team
• ReVision Quest CBC podcasts http://www.cbc.ca/revisionquest/index.html
• An Inconvenient Indian by Thomas King http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/the-inconvenient-indian-talks-back-1.1223026
• Truth and Reconciliation http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/index.php?p=905http://www.trc.ca/websites/trcinstitution/File/2015/Findings/Calls_to_Action_English2.pdf
• Video documentary - http://elderinthemaking.com/
• Forging Partnerships; Building Relationships – Doug Eyford Report 2015https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/sites/www.nrcan.gc.ca/files/www/pdf/publications/ForgPart-Online-e.pdf
• Reconciliation Canada http://reconciliationcanada.ca/category/video/reconciliation-on-film/
• Dragonfly cultural consulting http://dragonflycanada.ca/resources/aboriginal-worldviews/
• Shared Value Initiative: Extracting with Purpose http://sharedvalue.org/resources/report-extracting-purpose
@TrinaWamboldt
Trina Wamboldt, MA
URBAN SYSTEMS LTD.
250-319-1701