http://proceedings.esri.com/dvd/uc/2009/uc-presentations.html

http://communicate.aag.org/eseries/aag_org/program/AbstractDetail.cfm?AbstractID=22028

Abstract Title:
An 'Effective' Involvement of Indigenous People in EnvironmentalImpact Assessment: The Cultural Impact Assessment of the Saru RiverRegion, Japan

is part of the Paper Session:
Japan: Comparative Perspectives on Education, Indigenous Peoples, Religion and Culture

scheduled on Friday, 3/27/09 at 8:00 AM.

Author(s):
Naohiro Nakamura* - University of Victoria

Abstract:
The Cultural Impact Assessment of the Saru River Region represents the first time that a site investigation was implemented in Japan in order to preserve an ethnic culture in relation to the construction of a dam. One of the project's basic concepts was to get local residents, especially those of Ainu ethnicity, to participate in the investigation. Existing case studies of environmental impact assessment have argued that the assessment has failed to sufficiently involve Indigenous people in its process and has largely failed to incorporate Indigenous knowledge, cultural values, and voices into its processes and outcomes. Also, intangible aspects of Indigenous cultural heritage have not been protected. In the Cultural Impact Assessment of the Saru River Region, the Final Report was released in 2006 and significantly included the 3 year investigation of input by local residents. In this sense, this assessment succeeded in effectively involving  indigenous people in its process and in reflecting their cultural values in its results. The more important issue is, however, how these results were included in the final outcomes. If Indigenous people have no power over final decision making, their involvement is not effective. This paper analyses the significance and unresolved problems involved in this overall assessment process.

Keywords:

cultural heritage, Indigenous people, dam construction, environmental imapct assessment, Ainu, Japan

L. A. Shanley, URISA 2005 Annual Conference / GIS In Addressing Conference Proceedings / Public Participation GIS Conference Proceedings, 2005

View Paper

Original Press Release from GeoConnections

On September 12 and 13, 2007, over 70 First Nations technical and political staff gathered in Dakelh Territory (Prince George, BC) to view and discuss various systems First Nations have developed to manage referrals and land use planning issues. The goals of the workshop were to share best practices in land referral processes and tracking systems and build sustainability in the land stewardship information management process.

The workshop was organized by the First Nations Technology Council and the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, with funding from GeoConnections and the New Relationship Trust Foundation.

Representatives from First Nations and federal and provincial government agencies gave presentations, and break-out sessions were held to discuss referrals and land management issues. In the end, participants agreed to work together to develop new technologies and policies to help deal with referrals. Specifically, workshop participants developed recommendations related to three critical areas:

• Technology
• Operational policy and capacity building and training
• Strategic policy

Participants also recommended eight next steps to continue the progress begun during this workshop.

Details on the workshop and the final report can be found at:
http://www.cstc.bc.ca/cstc/84/fn+referral+workshop