Aligning with Indigenous perspectives
Through ceremony, the NWMO issued a Reconciliation Policy (2019) that sets out how we will contribute to Reconciliation. The NWMO’s Executive Committee, Board of Directors and employees were in attendance as we committed to this promise in the presence of the Council of Knowledge Holders.
In the NWMO Reconciliation Policy (2019), we follow the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s (TRC) definition of Reconciliation as “an ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships.”
Over the past three years, we have worked to meet our commitment to Reconciliation and measured our progress using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The same year the policy was released, the NWMO developed a Reconciliation baseline, and since then, we have developed a Reconciliation measurement matrix and applied our Reconciliation assessment tool to evaluate where we are in our contributions to Reconciliation.
Our Indigenous Relations team worked with Reciprocal Consulting – an Indigenous-owned firm specializing in Indigenous evaluation and monitoring – to develop our first annual Reconciliation Report (2021). The Reconciliation Report is an important development in the NWMO’s Reconciliation journey, building upon a strong foundation of meaningful dialogue with Indigenous peoples since our inception in 2002. It also provides a resource for other Canadian companies to consider how they will publicly set out to contribute to Reconciliation in their work.
In summer 2022, the Reconciliation Report (2021) was published, fulfilling our commitment to measure annually and report contributions to the TRC’s calls to action by providing an evaluation of the NWMO Reconciliation Policy’s impacts since its formalization in 2019. Activities tracked have included, but are not limited to:
- Mandatory staff Reconciliation training;
- Continuous learning opportunities;
- Culturally based workshops;
- Holistic support systems for staff that benefit mental health, such as Indigenous sharing circles; and
- Community-driven work plans.
The NWMO staff have engaged in our Reconciliation Training Program that includes training and cultural awareness learning opportunities, which we have also extended to contractors and external partners. By learning to understand and honour Indigenous Knowledge, perspectives and worldviews, we are living our values and helping set new standards for corporations who adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (including call to action 92).
Our efforts have not gone unnoticed. The NWMO received international recognition for communications around our Reconciliation journey – the 2020 Gold Quill Award from the International Association of Business Communicators.
NWMO Reconciliation Strategy
2022
- Enhanced Reconciliation Training Program to include learning specific to treaties and Métis peoples
- Publicly released the first annual Reconciliation Report
- Applied the Reconciliation assessment tool to governance as part of our Integrated Management System transformation
- Expanded Reconciliation Training Program to communities and external partners
2021
- Continued to enhance Reconciliation Training Program to include unconscious bias training
- Included Indigenous Knowledge in water protection plans
- Applied the Reconciliation assessment tool to regional engagement strategies
- Embedded Reconciliation within corporate culture
2020
- Enhanced policies and procedures to address Reconciliation
- Enhanced procurement program to include an Indigenous strategy
- Assessed corporate Reconciliation baseline and developed a Reconciliation measurement matrix
2019
- Published Reconciliation Policy
- Developed and delivered Reconciliation Training Program
- Developed a corporate Reconciliation baseline assessment tool
- Enhanced sponsorships and donations program to include a focus on Reconciliation
- Continued to communicate the NWMO’s Reconciliation program with communities involved in the site selection process
- Began assessment of NWMO policies and procedures against Reconciliation assessment tool
2018
- 85 per cent of NWMO staff received cultural awareness training
- Reconciliation Statement finalized through Indigenous ceremony
Creating a Reconciliation culture
Creating a Reconciliation culture has required daily practices such as land acknowledgments, ongoing training and learning opportunities, as well as recognition and support of Indigenous-led events.
Throughout the past three years, a significant focus of our Reconciliation work has been on advancing learning as it relates to meaningful conversations and the “ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships.” This three-part Reconciliation Training Program includes training modules focused on cultural awareness, ReconciliACTIONs we can all take, identity and land, and recognition of the importance of treaties. By the end of 2022, more than 80 per cent of our staff had completed Part II of the Reconciliation Training Program, and 50 per cent had completed Part III.
In 2022, the NWMO developed, piloted and delivered additional mandatory training to the NWMO’s staff focused on Métis awareness, to further enhance organizational learnings on Reconciliation. This emphasis on educating staff about Métis history, rights and culture will aid us as we continue to strengthen our understanding of how to best respect Métis interests in our work.
In 2020, a land acknowledgment guide was created and made available to staff on the NWMO’s intranet. Learnings from it were presented at a staff lunch and learn, with a focus on the importance of heartfelt and authentic land acknowledgments. We continue to encourage staff to reflect on and evolve these acknowledgments as related to their own Reconciliation journeys.
We also continue to participate in Indigenous dates of significance and events to enhance learning and promote discussion about Indigenous worldviews and history. For example, we annually recognize Red Dress Day, National Indigenous History Month, National Indigenous Peoples Day, the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also known as Orange Shirt Day.
The importance of Indigenous Knowledge
As stated in our Indigenous Knowledge Policy (2020), “Indigenous Knowledge is an evolving, complex and sophisticated system of knowledge drawing on millennia of wisdom and experience. It is an evolving knowledge system that ranges in diversity from governance, ecology, biology, ecosystems, harvesting, science and other aspects. It constantly grows and expands with the experience of new generations.” Since our inception in 2002, creating space for Indigenous voices, as well as understanding and honouring Indigenous worldviews, has improved the quality of our technical work and ability to engage with communities.
In line with our Indigenous Knowledge Policy, it is important that we consider different perspectives and how aspects of Indigenous Knowledge systems can be respectfully aligned with the project moving forward. Since 2018, we have hosted annual workshops as part of our Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science event series. Workshop discussions have explored opportunities for these two worldviews to align on topics that benefit research applications related to our project such as the importance of water, the historic and present-day significance of copper, and understanding the importance of relationship building.
A visual scribe captures the spirit of the fifth annual Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science workshop focused on taking action on our Reconciliation commitments.
Importantly, these group discussions evolved from describing this shared work as “interweaving” to “aligning.” Following guidance from the NWMO’s Council of Knowledge Holders, it was decided that “alignment” is more reflective of the event series’ tradition of respectful exchange between different worldviews. These dialogues set out to ensure that both knowledge systems can contribute fully while retaining their distinctiveness.
The annual workshops that happened from 2020 through 2022 were built on the thoughtful dialogue of previous years, with workshop topics anchored by discussions on fundamental differences, interconnectedness and aligning worldviews to address the safe and secure storage of nuclear waste.
For example, in 2021, our workshop, titled “Water First,” focused on creating space to understand the importance of water protection and the sacred relationship that Indigenous women have with water. Bridging the gap that exists between these two worldviews required relational work to nurture a different understanding – the concept that water has memory.
The NWMO is working to align with Indigenous Knowledge systems throughout our work as we continue to develop our understanding of Mother Earth – and its evolution over time – when considering the safe, long-term management of Canada’s used nuclear fuel.
The importance of relationship building and exchange with Indigenous peoples is critical to the success of Canada’s plan.