Mining and Indigenous Communities

Manitoba is home to thirty of thirty-four critical minerals identified by the federal government. These minerals, which include copper, lithium, uranium, among several others, are playing an increasingly important role in the modern economy.

Many of these minerals serve as key components for the development of modern technologies such as lithium batteries and semi-conductors, which are essential for renewable energy systems and virtually all electronic devices, respectively. Moreover, according to the provincial government “the demand for critical minerals is expected to double by 2040.”

What’s most important is that within Manitoba, and throughout the country, many of these minerals are situated in and around Indigenous communities, making these communities vital players in the race to acquire mineral resources.

Participating in the mineral industry carries vast implications with widespread development opportunities, expansive growth and, perhaps most importantly, greater sovereignty in the modern economy. Governments and businesses alike recognize the opportunity before them and have already begun the process of joint public-private ventures into the mining sector.

Since 2014, annual mineral exploration expenditures have grown almost every single year, up to around $200 million in 2024. The impact of these investments on secondary markets is difficult to estimate with certitude, however almost certainly the hundreds of millions of dollars being poured into the mining sector is contributing to an increase in jobs and helping local economies.

However, despite the vast and growing inflow of capital, many Indigenous communities have yet to see the benefits, owing to the lack of adequate social policy and government infrastructure. Some communities, such as Norway House Cree Nation, who have been at the forefront of Indigenous communities in the industry, have been disappointed with the lack of government involvement.

In an article with the CBC, Chief Larson Anderson of Norway House Cree Nation decried the lack of support, stating that “we think the province and the federal government would want to jump on that opportunity and help First Nations get out of being a burden to the taxpayer”

At present, there is no Indigenous procurement framework for critical minerals within the province. This means, in practice, that Indigenous communities are left to fend for themselves, both to source potential investors and to facilitate negotiations.

What’s more, the current status quo limits the ability for different communities to coordinate with each other and increases the level of complexity firms encounter as they try to enter the market. The lack of a concrete framework severely limits the possibilities for economic development in Indigenous communities who would like to participate in the industry.

In 2013, the province established the Manitoba Mineral Advisory Council, which aims to integrate Indigenous communities into the decision-making process and to identify barriers to their participation within the industry. Although an important step in the right direction, concrete policies have so far been limited.

A reasonable starting point would be to design a framework on the basis of consent as opposed to consultation. This would ensure that Indigenous communities are at the centre of the decision-making process and have the right to determine for themselves whether they wish to partake in mineral exploration projects and under what terms.