Articulating Indigenous Rights Within the Inclusive Development Framework: An Assessment of Forest Stewardship Policies and Practices in British Columbia, Canada

• Published in: Society & natural resources Vol. 33; no. 1; pp. 25 - 45
• Main Authors: Caverley, Natasha, Lyall, Andrea, Pizzirani, Stefania, Bulkan, Janette
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Routledge 02-01-2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Case studies; Environmental management; Forest; Forest management; Forestry; Forests; inclusive development; Indigenous Peoples; Management; National reconciliation; Native peoples; Native rights; Policies; Policy making; Resource management; stewardship; TRC; Truth; Truth and reconciliation commissions; UNDRIP; British Columbia Canada; Canada
• ISSN: 0894-1920; 1521-0723
• DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2019.1597237

While there has been a shift away from actively excluding Indigenous Peoples in forestry decisions, modern approaches to forest management often continue to disregard the multi-generational social, cultural, economic, and environmental needs of forest-based Indigenous communities. This article examines contemporary forest stewardship in British Columbia, Canada in the context of inclusive development-related policies - focusing on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Calls to Action. Relevant literature, case studies, and public documents are examined to assess if and how inclusive development-related policies are affecting Indigenous forest stewardship in British Columbia. Implications and recommendations for Canadian forest policy makers and practitioners are provided to facilitate reconciliation. In addition, the potential significance of monitoring the progression of inclusive development within Indigenous forest stewardship practices by using UNDRIP (alongside other Indigenous-focused policies unique to individual countries) is discussed.