b'ENVIRONMENT2024 Indigenous Capacity Support Program: Maximizing Indigenous Leadership in Impact Assessment Conference.of stewardship that links land, water, andThe process was also shaped bya gap that remains glaring in mainstream spirit. For Stellaten and its neighbours,Anishinaabe partners. Insights werelegislation. This approach is especially it guides how decisions are made andwoven into a shared framework with helpimportant because Indigenous culture is relationships are honoured. from the Firelight Group, an Indigenous- complex and holistic. BUILDINGSPIRIT OF THE LAND owned research and consulting firm,The final version of the toolkit was Spirit of the Land came together throughsupported by guidance from Elders,socialized with more than 3,500 people, conversations around kitchen tables,Knowledge Keepers, and advisorspiloted in communities and finalized in community halls, and across virtualfrom across regions. We supportedin 2024. Every step was rooted in the meetings where story and strategy werethe development of the toolkit throughprinciple that First Nations must lead given equal weight. Stellaten joinedin-person workshops with partner Firsttheir own assessments, guided by their neighbouring Nations, including NadlehNations, where the tools were tested and Whuten and Saikuz, early in the process,refined through case study applications,own laws.drawing on decades of experience withsays Melody Lepine, Firelights businessLepine sees Spirit of the Land as a living projects in their territories. lead for environmental assessments. document that will continue to evolve. Like other Nations, weve seen projectsLepine says what makes the toolkitEmerging best practices will support move ahead without our consent,unique is that it was developed by Firstcontinuous improvements in Indigenous-where our needs were treated as anNations, for First Nations. Unlike theled assessments, she says. My advice afterthought, if at all, says Casimel. Thisfederal Impact Assessment Act, to communities is simple: try using the time, we wanted to make sure cultureSpirit of the Land provides concretetoolkit. Take it for a test driveit puts was considered first, and then workguidance for assessing impacts toyou in the drivers seat of your Nations backwards from there. Indigenous cultural Rightscultural impact assessment.Supporting Canadas commitment CELEBRATINGto reconciliation and providing oppoSrtunities for economic prosperityince 1953YEARS STRONG3 Colour Stacked Logo with Icon40NATIONS FORWARDIssue 120251 Colour Stacked Logo with Icon1 Colour Stacked Logo with Icon'