Example
WFIN: Development of a Memorandum of Understanding or
Impacts and Benefits Agreement
WIFN believes that MOUs and IBAs are useful mechanisms to accommodate our
interests arising out of our aboriginal title, and for providing benefits to and creating a
positive working environment for the conduct of business by proponents.
Some or all of the following items may be included in the MOU or IBA, depending on the
complexity of the project and its potential impact on the environment and the WIFN
community:
1. Recognition of WIFN’s land claims, and its interest in self government.
2. Definition of an on-going role (e.g., liaison committee or a joint committee made
up of WIFN and company appointees) for the community in jointly implementing,
managing, and monitoring the project.
3. Definition of the make-up of the committee which would include representatives
from the First Nation and possibly one or more consultants retained by the First
Nation.
4. Preparing a schedule of meetings for the committee, and other proponent/First
Nation meetings.
5. Agreement on the combination of national, provincial, or international
environmental standards that will be used in the monitoring of the project.
6. Definition of the direct advisory role that WIFN would provide into the design,
implementation, and evaluation of monitoring studies.
7. Description of what effective compliance monitoring, and environmental effects
monitoring 1, would consist of for the project, and what the forms and records
would be that are used to document the monitoring system.
8. Development of monitoring threshold levels that would trigger action and the
notification protocols in that situation.
9. Establishing an annual schedule for the reporting and interpretation of monitoring
results and for reporting to the committee, the community, and other interested
Aboriginal communities in the local area.
10. Development of Notification Protocols to the First Nation for specific project
construction or operation activities.
11. Establishment of annual budgets and disbursement mechanisms for on-going
project related activities (for example, monitoring and database management
activities), and for other environmental programs addressing broader regional
objectives for which mutual benefit could be established.
12. Identification of all the potential costs and benefits for the community in the
project, not only environmental but also social and economic. Identification of
opportunities to develop business partnerships, and the definition of specific First
Nation employment and training opportunities. Also opportunities for the
provision of any other additional services to the community that the project
provides potential for, should be identified.