Community and Rights Advocacy
Archaeology
The right of the Wolastioqiyik to safeguard their archaeological resources is a right that is protected by Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
Archaeological artifacts of the Wolastoqiyik are sacred; we have the responsibility and obligation to ensure these artifacts are protected, preserved and respected by all, whether members or non-members of Wolastoqey communities.
What do we do?
As part of our work, the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick provides technical advice to Wolastoqey communities regarding potential threats to Wolastoqey archaeological resources. We are committed to working towards establishing processes for the identification, conservation and protection of Wolastoqey archaeological resources through discussions with the Government of New Brunswick.
Land and Resource
Use studies Land and Resource Use studies is a pillar of WNNB work which focuses on ensuring environmental reviews of proposed projects clearly demonstrate how Wolastoqey land use-based rights, such as hunting, fishing, cutting wood, harvesting of plants, and occupation, may be impacted. Based on these reviews, WNNB provides recommendations for how the impacts on Wolastoqey rights can be mitigated.
The objectives of Land and Resource Use studies are as follows:
- Provide a brief outline of historic Wolastoqey land and resource use within a proposed project area
- Present an overview of barriers to Wolastoqey land and resource use in Wolastoqey territory and within a proposed project area
- Describe current Wolastoqey land and resource use in Wolastoqey territory and within a proposed project area
- Discuss the impacts a proposed project may have on Wolastoqey land and resource use within a proposed project area
- Provide recommendations on how to mitigate the impacts that a proposed project could have on Wolastoqey land and resource use within the proposed project area
For more information, please contact Gillian Paul, Legal and Governance Advisor, at gillian.paul@wolastoqey.ca.
Environmental Assessments
In the Province of New Brunswick, environmental assessments are known as Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and fall under the Environmental Impact Assessment Act.
The federal environmental assessment process is known as an Impact Assessment, and falls under the Impact Assessment Act. Federal and provincial governments use an environmental assessment process to determine the potential adverse effects a proposed energy and natural resource development project will have on the environment. These environmental assessments determine whether or not a project will be approved to proceed.
What do we do?
As part of their duty to consult and accommodate, the federal and provincial governments consult Wolastoqey communities any energy and natural resource development project that stands to infringe on Aboriginal and Treaty rights. In these cases, the environmental assessments should actively consider these rights in order to ensure any infringement is avoided, mitigated, offset, or addressed through compensation. WNNB provides technical support and advice to Wolastoqey communities during environmental assessments to enure that the government considers the adverse impacts each project will have on Wolastoqey rights.
Some environmental assessments currently being reviewed by WNNB on behalf of the Wolastoqey communities include:
- Upham East Gypsum Quarry Project
- Sisson Mine – permitting process and EIA conditions
- Sagewill Limestone Quarry
- Mactaquac Dam refurbishment – Pre-EIA
- Scott Falls Dam decommissioning – Pre-EIA
- NB Power transmission lines – Fundy Isles, Rainsford Line, Kedgewick, Houlton
- Madawaska-Edmundston International Bridge
- Coles Island Bridge – EIA conditions
- Bay du Nord development project
- Ten proposed offshore Newfoundland exploration projects
- Deep Panuke and Sable Offshore Energy project decommissioning – conditions
- Chipman Wastewater Treatment Facility replacement – EIA conditions
- Nicholson’s Waste Management – EIA conditions
- Hanwell School
- Wocawson Wind Farm – EIA conditions
For more information, please contact Gordon Grey, EIA Coordinator, at gordon.grey@wolastoqey.ca.
Legislative and policy review
The Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick is committed to the regular review of legislation and policies to provide advice to Wolastoqey communities on how Aboriginal and Treaty rights can be better protected.
Current legislative reviews underway by WNNB include:
- Impact Assessment Act
- Fisheries Act
- Navigable Waters Protection Act
- Canadian Energy Regulator Act
- New Brunswick Climate Change Action Plan
- A Water Strategy for New Brunswick
For more information, please contact Gillian Paul, Legal and Governance Advisor, at gillian.paul@wolastoqey.ca, or Gordan Grey, EIA Coordinator, at gordon.grey@wolastoqey.ca
