b'Photo credit: Angel RansomSPIRIT OFTHE LANDThe Indigenous Cultural Rights and Interests ToolkitBy Bryan Hansen, Christine Miskonoodinkwe Smith and Angel RansomD oug Casimel, manager of thecollaboration with Anishinabek Nation,What sets the toolkit apart is who is Toonasa Ne Keyah StewardshipCheslatta Carrier Nation, Nadleh Whutenleading it. It is guided by First Nations, Department at Stellaten First Nation, Saikuz First Nation, andgrounded in traditional law, and built First Nation, remembers theStellaten First Nation, Spirit of the Land:around community knowledge systems.moment something shifted. He had justThe Indigenous Cultural Rights andIt incorporates Two-Eyed Seeing,returned from Bella Bella, B.C., whereInterests Toolkit helps First Nations leadan approach that honours both Heiltsuk youth hosted their own potlatch, their own evaluations of the culturalIndigenous and Western worldviews complete with regalia, songs, and impact of major projects. without asking either to compromise. clan introductions. Structured but adaptable, the toolkitThe toolkit is grounded in Indigenous They knew their culture so well theyoffers a framework for mapping culturalpriorities, rather than trying to fit themcould practice it, Casimel recalls. That hitRights, tracking cumulative effects andinto colonial frameworks.me in a good way, but also in a hard way.guiding community-driven responsesMAKING SPACE FORIt made me realize how much further weto development. Existing assessmentWHAT WAS MISSINGstill have to go to bring that back for ourprocesses often feel disconnected fromSpirit of the Land was designed in young people. the realities of land users, says Casimel.response to widespread concerns that Back home in Stellaten territory, thatThey visit and ask questions, then leaveexisting assessments sideline Indigenous kind of vibrancy felt distant. But a newand make decisions somewhere else worldviews. The idea for Spirit of theIndigenous-led assessment toolkit maydecisions that have long-lasting impactsLand emerged from a nationwide help change that. For Casimel, this is noton the local people. partnership that brought together two only an issue of environmental oversight,distinct Indigenous linguistic and cultural but one of cultural renewal. Yinka Dene Nations, includinggroups, says Angel Ransom, senior vice Stellaten, are now advancing their ownpresident of environmental services at Developed by the First Nationsenvironmental assessments with Spirit ofFNMPC. This collaboration enriched Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) inthe Land embedded into the process. the toolkits content by ensuring it was 38NATIONS FORWARDIssue 12025'