Cultural impact assessments: Integrating culture with standard resource management perspectives

Transcription

1 Cultural impact assessments: Integrating culture with standard resource management perspectives Rick Budhwa, MA Crossroads Cultural Resource Management Ltd. CrossroadsCRM.com Karl Sturmanis, MSc Chignecto Consulting Group Inc. chignectogroup.com

2 Definitions Presentation outline Shortcomings in current approach Community driven assessment and Cultural impact assessment Importance and benefits Types of information used Considerations for better CIAs CIA in practice: 3 case studies Future trends

3 Culture and cumulative effects Simply defined - cumulative effects are changes to the environment that are caused by an action in combination with other past, present, and future human actions. 1 Consideration of overall cumulative effects should meaningfully involve anthropologists and First Nations, and embed analysis and interpretations within a cultural umbrella, the ultimate holistic lens. 1: CEAA and IAIA (2012)

4 Cultural resource management (CRM) CRM refers to the multiple processes through which anthropologists and other professionals manage impacts of the modern world on cultural resources. CRM is the management of cultural landscapes, archaeological sites, historical records, social institutions, expressive cultures, old buildings, religious beliefs and practices, folk life, artifacts and spiritual places. 1 Manages for the tangible AND intangible aspects of culture 1: Watkins and Beaver (2008: 10)

5 Cultural resource management in BC: Current concept Territories/Landbase Natural Resources Cultural Resources Wildlife Geology Fisheries Water Quality Ecology Soils Botany Hydrology (etc) Traditional Knowledge Archaeology Traditional Use

6 Shortcomings within CRM process We still focus on tangibles and quantitative research and data This does not adequately portray Indigenous worldview or honour the definition of CRM Illustrated by two of the following examples: power dynamics and sense of place

7 Scenario 1: Power dynamics Valued cultural resources may be concentrated within specific regions What happens if such resources are forced into other regions of a traditional territory (ex. moose or goat)?

8 Scenario 2: Sense of place Is a feeling or perception held by people, to a certain place on the landscape 1 It possesses a strong identity and character, and a high degree of authenticity of which people attribute a special meaning and relationship Loss of sense of place may have significant impacts on individuals and communities with connectivity to that place. 1: Cresswell (2004)

9 Social relationships Physical heritage Archaeology, cultural heritage Archaeology, cultural heritage Language, Language, kinship, kinship, cultural cultural capital, capital, cultural cultural networks networks Intangible Tangible Culture Ethnogeography, Ethnogeography, traditional traditional use, use, cultural cultural landscapes landscapes Intangible Knowledge, practices, spirit relationships Land based relationships Intangible Oral Oral history, history, songs, songs, dances, dances, ceremonies, ceremonies, practices practices Gibson, O Faircheallaigh and Alistair MacDonald (2008)

10 Cultural resource management in BC: Alternative concept Territories/Landbase Natural Resources Cultural Resources Wildlife Geology Fisheries Water Quality Ecology Soils Botany Hydrology (etc) Cultural Heritage Socio-cultural Socio Ec. Language Health Spirituality Traditional Knowledge Traditional Use Archaeology* Budhwa and McCreary (2012)

11 Community driven assessments Any cultural assessment must be contextual to that community Each community has different levels of resilience and vulnerabilities, and different goals and priorities Therefore, communities must be involved in determining appropriate indicators for cultural assessment

12 Cultural impact assessment (CIA) CIA documents areas or resources of cultural importance, and assesses the potential impacts of a proposed development on these areas. 1 Most importantly, CIA identifies and manages for INTANGIBLE aspects of cultural resources CIA must assess: Physical impacts to landscape (such as impacts to archaeological sites) Spiritual impacts to landscape and to people Loss of sense of place and relationship to landscape. 2 1,2: Gibson et al. (2008)

13 CIA: Importance and benefits CIA is the most effective way to determine the overall impact of a development upon a culture Community members assume active roles in impact assessment process Control over archaeological process shifts from archaeologists to First Nations Contributes to greater certainty and social license

14 How to do CIA well Industry support First Nations support, capacity and continuity Qualified cultural researchers and consultants (i.e. anthropologists and other related social scientists) Use case studies to guide your study

15 Important considerations for CIA Past, present and future Recognize that culture is a continuum, always changing and adapting to the needs of the people. For First Nations, it is often inappropriate to make distinctions, or draw lines in the sand between old and new (ex. HCA protection date of 1846AD) Importance of relationships Recognize that sound relationships require time to build and maintain, and involve the ability to listen. This results in mutual respect and cross-cultural understanding Utilize wisdom Wisdom is a vital source of expertise about natural and cultural resources, like education and life experience. We must ensure wisdom is utilized effectively

16 How do we determine significance? Many different types of significance (public, historic, scientific, economic, cultural) Cultural significance is defined by values what First Nations believe to be important, regardless of other values and significances Places of cultural importance can often maintain their significance even if they are not regularly used in a physical sense Photo: Office of the Wet suwet en

17 Common components in CIA Physical heritage resources Cultural landscapes Spiritual places Relationships to the land and animals Language Oral history Sociocultural values Methods for transmission of culture and generational relationships Traditional use and socioeconomic practices Gibson et al. (2008)

18 CIA in practice Taseko Mines & Tsay Keh Dene Aurico Gold & Tsay Keh Dene, Takla and Kwadacha Nations (TKN) BC Hydro & Hagwilget Village

19 The how : Create a baseline program Biophysical and cultural programs Environment includes human and biophysical dimensions All baseline studies must have the capacity to identify and receive references to culture (culture flagging) Ensure sufficient temporal scope (program takes time!)

20 Taseko Mines & Tsay Keh Dene Exploration agreement signed 2012 Co-operative approach to Tsay Keh Dene land use study Co-operative approach to other studies (ex. emphasis on the cultural aspect to understanding wildlife)

21 Aurico Gold & TKN 2007 Joint panel report- Kemess North not approved because "benefits would be outweighed by adverse social, environmental and CULTURAL effects and risks Tse Keh Nay was approached by Northgate in 2010 to discuss alternative approach Kemess underground (avoid impact to Amazay Lake) Exploration agreement signed with AuRico Gold (formerly Northgate) in 2012 Co-operative approach to environmental and cultural studies and commitment to cultural baseline studies program

22 Baseline studies program governance CLIENT Chief Chief Chief Technical Rep Technical Rep Technical Rep STRATEGIC OPERATIONAL BIOPHYSICAL CULTURAL Wildlife Ecology Fisheries Water Heritage Arch SocioEc Health COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ENGAGEMENT

23 BC Hydro & Hagwilget Village In October 2006, BC Hydro impacted burial site Remains of unknown # of people were disturbed This event caused significant psychosocial trauma within the community Main focus was closure (physical, mental, spiritual, etc) Community driven and regular communications (transparency) Results is a good relationship and a happy community

24 Future trends Heritage stewardship responsibilities and authority shifting to First Nations Many First Nations have entered into agreements with major industrial development proponents Reduced role of government agencies Empowerment of First Nations by court system Emphasis of the importance good relationships between industry, First Nations and researchers

25 Final thoughts Continue to engage and encourage cooperative agreements Need for commitment to the process and patience on both sides of the resource issues Time for opportunity

26 Thanks! Tsay Keh Dene Band Bulkley Valley Research Centre Takla Lake First Nation Office of the Wet suwet en Kwadacha Nation Hagwilget Village Council AuRico Gold Taseko Mines BC Hydro

27 References Budhwa, R. (2005). An Alternate Model for First Nations Involvement in Resource Management Archaeology. Canadian Journal of Archaeology, 29, Budhwa, Rick and Tyler McCreary. (2012) Reconciling Indigenous Ontologies with Cultural Resource Management. In, A Deeper Sense of Place. Oregon State University Press. Submitted for print. Cresswell, T. (2004). Place: A Short Introduction. Malden: Blackwell Publishing. Fonseca, A. and Gibson, R. (2008) Application Denied - BC's Kemess North and Nova Scotia's White Point project promised jobs and revenue, but the communities were looking for overall sustaibability. Alternatives Journal 34:4. Gibson, O Faircheallaigh and MacDonald. (2008). Integrating Cultural Impact Assessment into Development Planning. International Association for Impact Assessment Workshop Johnson, J. T., & Murton, B. (2007). Re/placing Native Science: Indigenous Voices in Contemporary Constructions of Nature. Geographical Research, 45(2), Klassen, M. A., Budhwa, R., & Reimer, R. (2009). First Nations, Forestry, and the Transformation of Archaeological Practice in British Columbia, Canada. Heritage Management, 2(2), Lertzman, D.A Best of two worlds:traditional ecological knowledge and Western science in ecosystem- based management. BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management 10(3): MacDonald, Alistair Integrating Cultural Impact Assessment into EIA: Overcoming Common Hurdles. Presentation at IAIA Cultural Impact Assessment conference Beyond the Biophysical. Yellowknife, NWT. Watkins, J., & Beaver, J. (2008). What Do We Mean by 'Heritage'? Whose Heritage Do We Manage, and What Rights Have We to Do So? Heritage Management, 1(1), 9-36.