Abstract
SOOP Strategies recently completed a research project on the social impacts of mineral resource development projects on Indigenous host communities in Canada, using an intersectional lens to understand how such impacts affect Indigenous women and girls. Inspired by recommendations made to the extractive sector in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (‘MMIWG’), this project aims to help fulfill this call and proactively mitigate negative social and cultural outcomes that an influx of transient workers can have on Indigenous communities resulting from extractive projects at their different stages.
The goals here were two-fold:
- Determine specific changes to social infrastructure that can mitigate negative impacts as identified through this study, proposing specific recommendations that a company can action to prepare for the inevitable social changes that often accompany the development of a mineral resource project
- Use the results of this research to create a web-based resource hosted on the PDAC website to provide guidance to companies on social impact mitigation strategies throughout the stages of mineral resource development.
Research began with a comprehensive literature review followed by a case study of the Brucejack Mine in British Columbia, which was supplemented by interviews with members of local communities. Five people participated in the interview process. Sixteen findings and recommendations emerged from the research in the areas of: improved stakeholder engagement practices, ensuring a gender lens is applied to social impact and opportunities assessments, engaging local expertise, modifying human resources practices, and innovative ideas for program design in the areas of community development. Finally, the researchers proposed ideas for further opportunities to explore, considering the availability of comprehensive literature and research in this area appeared limited.