b'INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTand well return to a place we hadThe risks of eroding trust and hinderingfast-trackedby creating a more effi-hoped to move beyond. beneficial Indigenous partnerships arecient development process that main-significant in their own right. However,tains integrity and respects Indigenous It is also important to remember thatone cannot forget that taking shortcutsrights. When we move forward in good not all Indigenous communities arealso poses a threat to legal compli- faith, he says, were not just building prepared to move at the same pace asance. Courts consistently reinforce thatprojectswere building trust, under-Canada\'s project owners. This can alsomeaningful engagement is required,standing, and a chance to improve create friction. The worst outcome isand failure to do so can delay projects,how development happens without fast progress that only includes a fewjeopardize procurement, and furthercompromising on integrity.\'ready\' communities, leaving othersundermine reconciliation efforts.behind,Koostachinnotes.ThisEQUITABLE PARTICIPATIONdeepens inequalities, fosters divisions,Numerous risks can arise from fast- Canadas journey toward reconcil-and invites legal and social backlashtracking projects at the expense ofiation is marked by progress, but that undermines trust, stability and theIndigenous consultation and engage- recent calls to accelerate develop-broader goals of reconciliation." ment. As compelling, however, arement have prompted questions around the benefits of keeping this criticalthe government\'s ability to uphold While Indigenous communities areconsideration in check. Early andits consultation commitments. "The well within their rights to demonstratemeaningful engagement begets earlierfederal government is attempting objections to fast-tracked consultations,revenue streams, stronger relationships,to balance economic development such actions are likely to be miscon- and more opportunities to benefitwith its constitutional obligations to strued in the court of public opinion,fromIndigenousKnowledgeandIndigenous Peoples. Bill C-5, the One which is another potential negativebest practices.Canadian Economy Act, illustrates this development. Desjarlais suggests thetension. While industry welcomes the narrative may shift toward portrayingAs Desjarlais notes, engaging in goodpromise of faster approvals, many Indigenous Peoples as anti-develop- faith provides a chance to examine andIndigenous leaders felt excluded from ment, when in reality, they are oftenimprove our current regulatory systemsthe development of the legislation," just excluded from it. particularly for projects that aren\'tsays Koostachin. LEARNING FROM PAST MISTAKESTo understand the potential risks of fast-tracking Indigenous consultation on major projects, one need only look to cautionary tales in recent history.The Northern Gateway Pipeline (NGP) project, for example, was a $7.9-billion initiative launched by Enbridge to transport oil from Alberta to the B.C. coast. The project drew criticism from First Nations communities (and other environmental groups) concerned about the pipeline\'s impact on their lands and waters. Moreover, they were troubled by the lack of consultation and informed consent from the federal government on these and other potential impacts. The project was ultimately rejected in 2016, and the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that the federal government had failed to adequately consult Indigenous Peoples, violating their constitutional rights. Fallout from Bill C-38 also offers insights into the pitfalls of poorly executed Indigenous consultations. Passed in 2012 under the Stephen Harper administration, the Bill made key changes to the Environmental Assessment Act and the Fisheries Act without Indigenous consultation, effectively weakening oversight on natural resource projects. This, among many other issues, prompted "Idle No More," a grassroots Indigenous rights and environmental movement and created a scar in Canadas Truth and Reconciliation efforts.NGP and Bill C-38 have both become case studies in inadequate Indigenous consultation, and the social, economic and reputational repercussions that can result. Theres a lot we\'ve learned since then, says John Desjarlais, executive director of the Indigenous Resource Network. We\'ve also learned the importance of engaging early, and we now better understand that consent and meaningful participation are community-driven processes, and our role is to support and facilitate that, not dictate it. The old top-down, paternalistic approach, where everything was prepackaged and presented for approval simply doesn\'t work." "These lessons aren\'t just theoretical; they\'re grounded in real progress," Desjarlais adds. "And fortunately, we can point to incredible projects today that reflect what we\'ve learned and how far we\'ve come."36A CCIB PUBLICATIONFall 2025'