Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Skip to content| Skip to institutional links

Common menu bar links

Course Description

Consulting Aboriginal Groups in Environmental Assessments

Goal	This course is intended to provide participants with: general awareness of the historical and cultural context in which they may be working with Aboriginal groups in Canada; fundamental principles, tools and skills for planning, implementing and evaluating an effective and logical process to consult Aboriginal groups in a federal environmental assessment (EA); and knowledge of federal roles and responsibilities when undertaking consultation of Aboriginal groups during a federal EA.
Ideal Participants	Registration is limited to federal departments, agencies and organizations that have EA responsibilities under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
Preparation for the Course	Highly recommended: Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Department of Justice’s training session on consultation and accommodation, focused on the Interim Guidelines for Federal Officials to Fulfill the Legal Duty to Consult. Experience in working with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Agency course on EA Project Management (for major projects).
Outcomes and Benefits	The course will provide participants with: information on how Canada’s historical and cultural context may influence the process for consulting Aboriginal groups during an EA; an understanding of when it may be appropriate to consult Aboriginal groups during the EA process based on the Interim Guidelines for Federal Officials to Fulfill the Legal Duty to Consult and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. an understanding of the Agency’s approach to integrating Aboriginal consultation into the EA process; and an opportunity to explore the context and practices used for Aboriginal consultation in relation to EA across Canada.
Features	Participants will have the opportunity to: engage in a hands-on approach to learning through interactive exercises, case studies and group discussions; learn from an Aboriginal person who will provide participants with a presentation on federal EA from an Aboriginal perspective; and gain an understanding of basic principles and skills necessary for planning, implementing, and evaluating a process for consulting Aboriginal groups during a federal EA.
Course Duration	2 days