First Nations’ Resource Policies

Operational Principles

First Nations’ resource policies often specify operational principles, which explain how First Nations’ decision-making processes will be implemented.  Many First Nations, such as the Innu Nation, explicitly recognize the need to use traditional knowledge and incorporate it “into planning, management and operational decisions in a manner acceptable to the Innu Nation.”42

Likewise, the TRTFN Mining Policy states that decision-making is based on the best available Tlingit Knowledge, other scientific information and expert opinion.43 The policy goes on to list other operational principles, such as:

  • TRTFN participation costs must normally be borne by the proponent;
  • any agreements drafted under the policy will be legally reviewed before finalizing; and
  • intellectual property agreements are mandatory for using First Nations’ knowledge.44

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MINE MEDICINE MANUAL:

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