• First Nation Treaty and Aboriginal rights

• Inuit and Metis Aboriginal rights

• Harvesting rights

• Aboriginal title to traditional territories

• Aboriginal jurisdiction

• Good faith in land claims negotiations

• Indian Act by-laws

• Intellectual property rights

• High-water marks, cultural and territorial boundary markers, survey monuments

• Preservation of Treaty and Aboriginal rights

• Reservation of lands and resources which are necessary to exercise Treaty and Aboriginal rights

• Preservation of unimpeded access to traditional territory

• Protection of boundary markers which define traditional territories, Reserves and/or cultural territories

• Constitutionally recognized rights cannot be unilaterally abrogated or diminished by federal government, provincial or territorial governments, agents of the crown, or by the granting of licenses or approvals to third parties

• Aboriginal peoples have responsibilities to existing and future generations to protect Treaty and Aboriginal rights

• Aboriginal peoples have responsibilities to existing and future generations to protect and preserve the land and resources which are the foundation of their culture

• Aboriginal peoples have responsibilities to the Creator to respect and protect the environment

• Interference with the peaceable enjoyment of traditional lands

• Limitations or restrictions on access to lands and resources in traditional territory by virtue of granting of land leases, licenses and/or permits to third parties

• Limitations or restrictions on the exercise of harvesting rights

• Decrease in land base or degradation of lands and resources in areas identified under land claims

• Exclusion or prevention of Aboriginal peoples from developing, managing, protecting lands and resources within traditional territories or land claims areas

• Infringement to the Aboriginal right where the project imposes undue hardship on the holder of the right; denies the holder of the right their preferred means of exercising the right; and, unreasonably limits Aboriginal or Treaty rights

• Ungulates (e.g. moose, deer, caribou)

• Birds

• Migratory (e.g. ducks, geese)

• Non-migratory (e.g. ptarmigan, grouse)

• Raptors (e.g. eagle, hawk, owl)

• Fish − fresh and saltwater

• Small mammals (e.g. fur bearers, porcupine, rabbits)

• Large mammals (e.g. bear)

• Marine mammals

• Plants (e.g. wild rice, herbs)

• Medicinal plants

• Source of food supply for humans and dogs, and as bait for harvesting other species

• Country foods perceived as being superior and healthier than store bought foods

• Harvesting activities are expression of culture and means of livelihood

• Healthy plant and animal populations mean healthy people

• Source of materials for creation of clothing and tools for personal use and for cash sale

• Resource for cash producing activities such as commercial fishing and trapping, hunting and guiding, eco- and Aboriginal tourism

• Cultural expression associated with food preparation methods, harvesting activities, language transfer, spiritual teachings and respect for environment

• Decline in diversity of species and/or decline in relative numbers of individual species

• Adverse change in the availability and/or access to species due to:

• change in migration patterns
• change in species behaviour
• change in water and land travel routes

• Decline in opportunities for harvesters to pursue activities − increased competition, restricted access

• Decline in the food qualities and/or safety:

• nutritional value (size, weight, diet of species)
• due to contaminants
• texture, colour, taste, appearance (e.g. tumour growth on wildlife, parasites in fish)

• Natural ecosystem boundaries

• Permafrost

• Soils and subsoils (ochre, clay, peat, marl)

• Rocks (limestone, marble, flint, gravel, sand, shale, slate, carving stone)

• Minerals (gypsum, sodium chloride)

• Hydrology

• Climate

• Forests, prairies, meadows, etc.

• Watersheds

• Aquatic habitat

• Marshes, wetlands, estuaries, rapids, water falls

• Ability to maintain concurrent and sequential land use practices on the land

• Unimpeded access to full range of traditional territory

• Preservation of full range and balance of habitat types

• Preservation of biological integrity and productivity

• Preservation of full range and balance of species diversity and populations

• Protection of water, land and ice travel routes:

• clean water a sign of healthy environment
• marshes, wetlands, rapids, etc. valued as water cleansers
• preservation of quantity and quality of water resources

• Habitat loss, damage, disturbance or fragmentation

• Encroachment or disturbance of high biodiversity areas (e.g. wetlands, marshes)

• Disturbance of critical habitat (calving grounds, spawning areas)

• Disruption of food webs

• Obstruction of wildlife/fish migratory routes

• Obstruction of travel routes or unsafe travel conditions

• Disruption, degradation or disturbance of marshes, wetlands, rapids, etc.

• Surface water

• Ground water

• Water beds

• Ice beds

• Landfast ice

• Geothermal resources

• High-water marks

• Marshes, estuaries, wetlands

• Clean water is a sign of healthy environment

• Marshes, wetlands, rapids and water falls are natural water cleansers

• Concurrent and sequential uses of water by humans, wildlife and plants

• Preservation of natural cycles of water levels and flows fundamental to species habitat and populations

• Water and ice conditions must be predictable for safe travel by humans and wildlife

• Lakes and rivers are source of potable water supply within communities and while out on the land

• Springs and geothermal water sources have significant cultural value

• High–water marks indicate boundaries of Reserves (Reserves include ownership of water beds)

• Reduced or increased water flow impacts on:

• ice formation or degradation, timing,
• travel
• access to shorelines
• wildlife and fish
• water quality (e.g. turbidity, debris)

• Reduced/Increased water level impacts on:

• ice formation or degradation
• travel
• shoreline access
• wildlife and fish
• water quality (e.g. turbidity, debris)

• Reduced quality of water for potable purposes

• Elimination or disruption of marshes, wetlands, rapids, waterfalls, geothermal sites

• Flooding of Reserve land

• Flooding/de-watering of critical shoreline habitat

• Reduced water quality due to introduction of contaminants, sedimentor debris

• Traditional mixed subsistence-based economies

• Land- and resource-based developments

• Equitable sharing of royalties and revenues in traditional territories

• Employment and unemployment rates

• In- and out-migration patterns

• Economic stability and instability, diversity

• Community infrastructure (e.g. buildings, roads, housing, sewer and water systems, trails, docks, etc.)

• Community services (e.g. social programs, health services, day-care services, etc.)

• Healthy environments for optimum subsistence and commercial harvesting opportunities

• Preservation of opportunities for existing and future generations to pursue traditional activities

• Mixed subsistence economy important to cultural preservation and community well-being

• Healthy environments needed to preserve existing and future passive and non-passive resource-based business and tourism

• Broad mix of employment opportunities within communities and in traditional territories

• Loss or damage to property or equipment used in wildlife harvesting

• Present or future loss of income and/or income-in-kind from wildlife harvesting

• Impact on the ability of future Aboriginal people to care for themselves in either the traditional way or cash economy

• Foreclosure or adverse impact on future resource-based economic opportunities

• Removal of adults and especially harvesters from community for employment in remote project sites

• Removal of trained individuals from community to work in project-related employment

• Increased strain and/or wear and tear on existing community infrastructure (e.g. roads, airports, hospitals, social and health services)

• Burial sites

• Cremation sites

• Archeological sites

• Historical and significant event sites

• Sacred sites

• Kill sites

• Traditional management systems

• Cultural Identity

• Preservation of languages, beliefs, histories, cultural and traditional knowledge

• Protection of cultural distinctiveness and social well- being

• Protection of spiritual relationship to the land

• Recreational areas

• Community demographic structure

• Population change: in- and out-migration, births and deaths

• Suicide and substance abuse rates

• Health indicators

• Political structure

• Protection of culturally important sites

• Protection of culturally important resources (e.g. rocks and minerals important for tools and art, medicinal plants, maple sugar trees)

• Protection of language, beliefs, traditions, history, knowledge

• Maintenance of healthy and balanced communities in terms of age structure, clan representation, Elders, adults women and men, youth

• Maintenance or promotion of healthy communities in terms of domestic violence and substance abuse

• Maintenance of diversity of skills types and levels within the community

• Creation of meaningful employment for adults and youth

• Maintenance and protection of existing levels, patterns and character of traditional activities

• A healthy environment is necessary for a healthy community

• Stable and healthy community leadership

• Decline in the use of place names relating to specific territories integral to Aboriginal culture

• Reduction and/or quality of recreational opportunities or amenities

• Negative effects on historical, archeological, cultural, paleontological or architectural resources or sites

• Negative impact on language, spiritual teachings, knowledge transfer

• Decreased quality and quantity of herbs and medicines leading to weakened traditional healing practices and additional strain on traditional health care systems

• Potential for project to introduce or exacerbate substance abuse, domestic violence, gambling and/or crime

• Potential for project to impact on skills and abilities with respect to money management

• Increased strain on community health and social services

• De-stabilization of community leadership and/or families

• Changes to age structure of community due to out-migration of adults to project-related employment

• Out-migration of higher trained or skilled labour force

• Accidents

• Air quality

• Water quality

• Noise pollution

• Emergency preparedness (e.g. flood, fire, hazardous materials)

• Healthy and safe work environments, whether work is out on the land, within the community, or at a job site

• Clean and safe air both within the community and out on the land

• Clean and safe water both within the community and out on the land

• Quiet, peaceful and safe communities

• Increased risk of accidents due to project related changes in water or ice regime

• Increased risk of community deaths due to project related employment

• Increased risk of substance abuse or suicide related deaths due to project

• Decline in air quality (e.g. acrid, noxious fumes, increased airborne particles) in community or project work site

• Discharges or release of persistent and/or toxic chemicals, microbiological agents, nutrients into aquatic or air in vicinity of communities and/or within traditional territory

• Increased noise levels due to project-related operations

Last Updated: 2004-02-26

Important Notices