Resources & Infrastructure

Mandate

Collaborating with knowledge holders, experts, and technical staff, the Resources and Infrastructure team formulates consultation plans tailored to each project's unique needs.

By weaving Western and Indigenous knowledge systems for a more robust process, we strive to minimize the impact to natural and cultural resources. Our team works to ensure consultation is occurring at the earliest stages of development and that, where inevitable impacts arise, we diligently work to implement appropriate accommodations.

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) Environment Office operates with the Joint Chiefs and Councils of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded and Saugeen First Nations. Through the lens of two-eyed seeing, our office ensures that SON's Aboriginal and treaty rights are respected through the duty to consult and free, prior and informed consent.

Consultation

The Resource and Infrastructure department works diligently to process all requests for consultation for any type of proposed development occurring within the SON Territory. It is critical that SON be engaged in meaningful Consultation on all projects and activities that have the potential to impact SON’s Aboriginal and Treaty rights and interests, and that have the potential to impact or change the environment of SON Territory.

Aggregate Resource Act License requests
Planning and Development Application requests
Municipal, Provincial and Federal Infrastructure Development
Permits to take water Responsibilities
Public Lands Development requests
Linear development requests
Forestry

Consultation in land use planning, management, protection and accessibility within the SON Territory

Parks Management
Municipal Land use planning
Conservation Authority
Land Trusts
Public education on rights in the SON Territory

Archaeology

The Resources and Infrastructure department is the primary contact for all proposed archaeology work occurring in the SON Territory to protect SON cultural heritage, our ancestors and their belongings. We encourage early engagement with our office in order to provide the necessary guidance on proposed archaeological studies.

Monitoring archaeology assessments
Reviewing archaeological assessment reports
Coordination with archaeology consultants
Supervision and guidance of burial site disturbance
Consultation and guidance in the development of Archaeological Management Plans
Repatriation of belongings
On-going advocacy for policy change

Key Contacts

Resources & Infrastructure Manager

Charlene Leonard | Manager
Ph: (519) 534-5507
Em: @email

Resources & Infrastructure Associate

VACANT | Associate
Ph: (519) 534-5507
Em: associate.ri@saugeenojibwaynation.ca

GIS Coordinator

Natalie Kuipers | Coordinator
Ph: (519) 534-5507
Em: gis@saugeenojibwaynation.ca

Parks Coordinator

VACANT | Coordinator
Ph: (519) 534-5507
Em: parks@saugeenojibwaynation.ca

Archaeology Coordinator

Natalie Kuipers | Acting Coordinator
Ph: (519) 534-5507
Em: archaeology@saugeenojibwaynation.ca

Executive Assistant - Resources & Infrastructure

Amber Debassige | Executive Assistant
Ph: (519) 534-5507
Em: @email

Major Highlights

TP Hayes Decision

NEYAASHIINIGMIING - A new Ontario Court decision delivers a stinging rebuke of the conduct of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and a quarry operator on the Bruce Peninsula (T and P Hayes) for failure to properly consult the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. As a result of this failure, the Court has quashed approvals for the T and P Hayes quarry project.

In the case of Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash v. Ontario (Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry) and T & P Hayes Ltd.*, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice overturned the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry’s (MNRF) approval of T and P Hayes’ quarry licence, finding that the MNRF breached its duty to consult and accommodate the Saugeen Ojibway Nation’s Aboriginal and Treaty rights. The Court found these breaches “serious”, for the Crown had not:

properly assessed what their duty to consult required them to do
given early enough notice of the application to SON
provided SON with funding to hire experts to evaluate the project
followed a clear, agreed-to consultation process.

The SON Joint Chiefs and Councils are celebrating this monumental decision, “This comes after years of efforts to defend our constitutionally-protected rights in the face of hundreds of active quarries in our Territory. In this case, our efforts to defend our rights were met with years of stalling, denial of our rights, and a refusal to provide us with relevant information,” says Chief Lester Anoquot of Chippewas of Saugeen First Nation. “The Court has recognized that these tactics are not acceptable, and do not uphold the honour of the Crown or advance reconciliation. We hope this decision will serve as a road map for how to do better on the many other quarry applications currently in process.”

A key issue in the case was who should pay for SON’s technical experts to review the quarry project, in order to identify and address impacts to SON’s rights. The Court agreed with SON that the Crown should fund such technical reviews.

“These are not our projects and they don’t benefit our Communities. Our Communities should not have to take from already-scarce community funds needed for housing, education and other essential services to enable someone else’s project. We are asking to participate in consultation on a level playing field that doesn’t disadvantage us,” said Chief Greg Nadjiwon of Chippewas of Nawash First Nation.

The decision has led to a major change in aggregate development in the Saukiing Anishnaabekiing. It can be found at Saugeen First Nation and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation v Ontario (MNRF), 2017 ONSC 3456