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Environmentalism in an Age of Reconciliation Exploring a New Context of Indigenous and Environmental NGO Relationships

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Environmentalism in an Age of Reconciliation Exploring a New Context of Indigenous and Environmental NGO Relationships Environmentalism in an Age of Reconciliation Exploring a New Context of Indigenous and Environmental NGO Relationships by Charlie Gordon B.A., University of Victoria, 2014 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the School of Environmental Studies ©Charlie Gordon, 2018 University of Victoria We acknowledge with respect the Lekwungen-speaking peoples on whose traditional territory the university stands and the Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEĆ peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. Environmentalism in an Age of Reconciliation Exploring a New Context of Indigenous and Environmental NGO Relationships by Charlie Gordon B.A., University of Victoria, 2014 Supervisory Committee Dr. James Rowe, Environmental Studies Supervisor Dr. Jeff Corntassel, Indigenous Studies Departmental Member ii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. James Rowe, Environmental Studies Supervisor Dr. Jeff Corntassel, Indigenous Studies Departmental Member As Canada’s courts recognize and redefine the scope of Aboriginal title and rights in the country, alliances between Indigenous communities and environmental groups are playing an increasingly central role in the fight to stop fossil fuel infrastructure projects and address the global threats of climate change. Recognizing the importance of relationships between environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGO) and Indigenous peoples to environmental campaigns in Canada, and the need to include land-politics into the national conversation of reconciliation, this research project aims to investigate the role of reconciliation efforts in environmental campaigns in BC. Indigenous-ENGO relationships offer important opportunities to learn how actions and language of reconciliation are (or are not) being expressed in environmental campaigns, and to learn how ENGOs are approaching their work with Indigenous communities in an era of reconciliation. Using two campaigns as my case studies I explore these topics by interviewing ENGO staff and Indigenous peoples working collaboratively on the Site C Dam campaign in the Peace River region of Treaty 8 in northeast BC, and the Pacific Northwest liquid natural gas (LNG) terminal project in the Skeena River watershed region in the traditional territories of the Tsimshian, Gitxsan, and Wet’suwet’en nations of northwest BC. Informed by Indigenous and anti-colonial research methodologies, a principle of relational accountability is used to center relationships with land as a foundation for reconciliation, and for recommendations on how Indigenous-ENGO relationships can be improved. iii Table of Contents Supervisory Committee ............................................................................................................................. ii Abstract ......................................................................................................................................................iii Table of Contents ....................................................................................................................................... iv List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................ vii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................. viii Dedication ...................................................................................................................................................x Chapter 1: Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Organization of the Thesis ................................................................................................................ 4 1.2 Background ....................................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Research Questions .......................................................................................................................... 7 1.4 Locating Myself in the Research ....................................................................................................... 7 1.5 The Trouble with Reconciliation........................................................................................................ 9 1.6 Literature Review ............................................................................................................................ 12 1.7 Research Methodology ................................................................................................................... 16 1.7.1 Indigenous Research Methodologies ....................................................................................... 17 1.7.2 Anti-Colonial Research Methodologies .................................................................................... 20 1.7.3 Movement-relevant Theory ..................................................................................................... 23 1.8 Research Methods .......................................................................................................................... 24 1.8.1 Case Studies and Research Participant Selection ..................................................................... 24 1.8.2 Semi-Structured Interviews ...................................................................................................... 26 1.8.3 Building Relationships with Land and People ........................................................................... 28 1.8.4 Privacy and Confidentiality....................................................................................................... 29 1.8.5 Analysis by Listening ................................................................................................................ 30 1.8.6 Analysis by Text ........................................................................................................................ 31 1.9 Brief Summary of Findings .............................................................................................................. 31 1.9.1 Limitations of the Research ...................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 2: Site C Campaign Case Study ................................................................................................... 34 2.1 My Journey to the Peace ................................................................................................................. 34 2.2 Background to the Site C Dam Campaign ........................................................................................ 36 2.2.1 Treaty 8 .................................................................................................................................... 38 iv 2.3 Research Participants ...................................................................................................................... 39 2.4 ENGO Policies on Working with Indigenous Peoples ...................................................................... 42 2.4.1 David Suzuki Foundation’s Indigenous Peoples Policy ............................................................. 42 2.4.2 Sierra Club of BC’s Acknowledging Title and Rights ................................................................. 45 2.5 Experiences within the Campaign ................................................................................................... 47 2.5.1 Relationships with ENGOs: Indigenous Perspectives ............................................................... 47 2.5.2 Relationships with Indigenous Peoples: ENGO Perspectives.................................................... 51 2.5.3 Perspectives on Reconciliation ................................................................................................. 55 Chapter 3: Petronas Case Study ............................................................................................................... 60 3.1 My Journey to the Skeena ............................................................................................................... 60 3.2 Background to the Petronas Campaign ........................................................................................... 61 3.2.1 Complicated Regional Politics .................................................................................................. 64 3.3 Research Participants ...................................................................................................................... 65 3.4 ENGO Perspectives on Working with Indigenous Peoples .............................................................. 68 3.4.1 Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition .............................................................................. 68 3.4.2 SkeenaWild Conservation Trust ............................................................................................... 69 3.5 Experiences within the Campaign ................................................................................................... 70 3.5.1 Relationships with ENGOs: Indigenous Perspectives ............................................................... 70 3.5.2 Relationships
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