Consultation and Engagement

As set out in the Canada - Métis Nation Accord (PDF), the Métis citizens of Elk Valley have the right to self-determination and self-government. We are engaging in this activity, which includes the right to represent ourselves in regulatory Consultation processes. To support this process, we have developed the interim Consultation Guidelines to assist regulators and organizations. Our Guideline outlines how we would like to be Consulted based off of established precedents.

We ask for patience as we develop our capacity and rights to self-determination within the region. If you have not heard from the Elk Valley Metis in the past, it is due to the lack of capacity/ability...not a lack of interest.

As communicated in our Guidelines, we require all proponents/organizations who have the potential to impact our rights to communicate directly with our team. EVM collaborates with the Métis Nation of BC, but also express unique interests within the region that are best exercised and coordinated by the rights bearing Métis citizens of Elk Valley .

Our areas of rights exertion include the Section 35,  constitutionally protected Indigenous / Aboriginal rights to: hunt, fish, trap, gather/harvest, practice our culture, understand and participate in project development / considerations. The United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP - PDF), with Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), Law, Accords, Commissions and other Métis precedents inform and evolve our involvement.

Consultation is well understood with Indigenous peoples. As our rights are equal and protected in our Canadian Constitution, we ask for nothing more, or nothing less than what organizations are required to Consult with our other Indigenous peoples. We approach consultation as a cost-recovery process and administer a 15% fee to our activities. An initial $1500 project filing fee is requested to cover the initial internal processes neccessary to support meaningfulness our first engagement with you on your project(s).

We have developed a harvesting map to loosely communicate our primary areas of regional focus. Projects within this focus area should trigger the Duty to Consult due to the potential infringement of our Rights.