Major Projects and Big Decisions

Critically examines megaprojects conducted in Indigenous territories to explore how we can foster better development in Canada. Major Projects and Big Decisions considers, from both Indigenous and Western perspectives, the industrial transformations brought on by three Canadian hydroelectric megaprojects within Indigenous territory: Keeyask in Manitoba, Site C in British Columbia, and Muskrat Falls in Newfoundland and Labrador. The contributors examine the approaches to resource extraction that were used and the factors that allow current extractive models to persist. They then show how processes could and should support Indigenous nation-building and what an Indigenous reconciliation-centered approach to megaproject development might look like. The resulting lessons are applied to the Ring of Fire mining complex in Northern Ontario, demonstrating the possibilities for better development and better outcomes for Indigenous communities. This practical study gives concrete direction on implementing changes that would improve federal regulatory frameworks and resource use so that Indigenous peoples can benefit, while still preserving connections to land and culture.