Ongoing Colonization and Indigenous Environmental Heritage Rights: A Learning Experience with Cree First Nation Communities, Saskatchewan, Canada

Ranjan Datta,William P Marion

doi:10.3390/heritage4030076

Abstract

Ongoing colonization of the environment and natural resources has negatively impacted environmental heritage rights in many parts of the world, particularly Indigenous environmental rights and their relationships with the environment. For many Indigenous communities, the history of colonialism became a history of dispossession for Indigenous peoples, their land, water, traditional knowledge, and practices. This paper addresses the ongoing environmental heritage conflict between the Cree First Nation communities’ traditional environmental heritage practices and developmental energy projects in Saskatchewan, Canada. Drawing from a relational research framework, we (Cree First Nation Knowledge Keeper and settler scholar of color) shared our learning reflections from Cree First Nation communities on how energy projects (particularly pipeline leaks) have negatively impacted Indigenous land, water, and traditional heritage and practices. In this paper, we focus our learnings from the Cree First Nation communities on the following questions: Why and how do developmental projects neglect Indigenous heritage rights, particularly environmental heritage rights? What can be or should be done about it? What are our responsibilities as researchers and educators? In this study, we learned about traditional-knowledge-based consultation and solutions to the ongoing challenges of incorporating Indigenous interests into environmental heritage to foster Indigenous environmental heritage rights. We also highlight how Indigenous perspectives on their environmental heritage rights are interconnected with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from our learning reflections, particularly Goal 3, Good Health and Wellbeing, Goal 10, Reduced Inequalities, Goal 13, Climate Action, Goal 15, Life on Land, and Goal 16, Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.

Highlights

Indigenous peoples are struggling for environmental heritage rights across the globe, struggles for Indigenous land–water rights, language and cultural rights, sustainable development rights, relationships to environments, and rights on traditional practices
In explaining ongoing colonization on Cree First Nation communities’ environmental heritage rights, in this paper, we explore the extent to which the community members are affected by pipeline projects promoted by government and industry
The Cree First Nation communities’ traditional environmental practices and knowledge became marginalized economically, socially and politically. They are often pushed to the margins of mainstream consciousness

Summary

Introduction

Indigenous peoples are struggling for environmental heritage rights across the globe, struggles for Indigenous land–water rights, language and cultural rights, sustainable development rights, relationships to environments, and rights on traditional practices. These struggles stem from centuries-long, ongoing colonial legacies. They hold profound significance for Indigenous peoples’ environmental justice, environmental heritage, cultural identity, political autonomy and external relations within nation-states. Indigenous rights for environmental heritage has already been a long struggle. The first international treaty, signed at the Hague Convention (1954), focused on protecting cultural property during armed conflicts.

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