The impacts of colonialism have left Indigenous peoples around the world struggling to establish fair and equitable relationships with non-Indigenous communities. Pacific Resolutions has extensive experience assisting Indigenous groups across Canada, and internationally, to resolve conflicts, develop new relationships and negotiate mutually-beneficial agreements with other levels of government, other Indigenous communities, the private sector and NGOs.

Metlakatla Treaty Negotiations

Retained by the Metlakatla Governing Council to facilitate engagement sessions in support of the Metlakatla First Nations completing the final stage of their treaty negotiations. Project objectives focused on building community engagement processes and results from previously successful Treaty negotiations and enabling the Metlakatla membership to clearly understand the current status of treaty negotiations and the opportunities it could bring. The team worked to provide illustrations and accessible documentation to convey the multiple dimensions of the Metlakatla Treaty and recorded the interests and preferences of membership in relation to issues under negotiation. This work set the stage for ongoing community engagement in the treaty negation process, developing an effective approach for community engagement that reflects the aspirations of the Metlakalta Fist Nations.

Nechako River Project

Retained by the Saikuz and Stellat’en First Nations (together with the Nechako First Nations) to assist them in developing and implementing a strategy for recovering the Nechako River and halting the infringement on their Indigenous rights. The destruction of the Nechako River resulted from the construction of the Kenny Dam in the 1950’s, which diverted approximately 65% of the water through the coast range to a power generation station at Kemano, Kitemat. This diversion essentially eliminated the spring freshet and drastically reduced the functional fish habitat in the upper Nechako. Several species of salmon and white sturgeon populations have declined significantly and the sturgeon are on the brink of extinction. Pacific Resolutions worked through the complexities of this case for many months to come up with an effective strategy that would shift the water management regime to a state that could begin to respect the interests of the Nechako First Nations, while still satisfying the majority of the economic interests that dominate the current water management regime. In addition to supporting the development of this strategy, Pacific Resolutions also helped to communicate it to other levels of government and the private sector. Pacific Resolutions also helped achieve an early milestone of the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with the Region District of Bulkily Nechako, whose interests are aligned with the Nations. The Regional District passed a resolution in support of restoring the Nechako, with the MOU providing a foundation for its restoration. Local governments continue to work together in achieving this outcome.