Innovation September-October 2023

and Reconciliation, the Guideline on Indigenous Consultation and Engagement ( engineerscanada.ca/Report/Guideline On-Indigenous-Consultation-And Engagement ) offers such practical guidance as “do your homework,” said Frank, who is of St’at’imc heritage. “Know what territory you are in and who the host Nations are,” Frank said. “If you are in close proximity and there is an event open to the public, go and attend. Be visible and seen in the community. Take actual steps to build relationships with the people. Learn how to say hello and thank you.” Some engineers, Caron knows, may find this intimidating or worrying: “They don’t want to do or say the wrong thing. But I want to remind them that learning is a journey, cliché though that may sound, that allows people to come as they are.” And so far, said Frank, “I’ve heard only positives” from engineers about the guideline. “They think it’s about time and they are really grateful that the work is there. They also like that it’s not just a checklist, that it provides context about what to expect” when going into Indigenous communities. For example, a traditional prayer will be said before a meeting in many, but not all, communities; this is important when building an agenda built on knowledge rather than assumption. “I would love for every engineer to feel like there is a personal investment that they have to make in decolonization,” said Caron. “I can guarantee that if they do make that investment, they will come to a better understanding of themselves and the power that they have within their roles. Even if they are the most junior person on the team, they can still be the person who asks the questions that could translate into deeper, more meaningful engagement.”

Rather than trying to control the environment, de-colonizing incorporates working in partnership with the land and water, explains Danilo Caron, EIT. P hoto : W endy D P hotography

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