Indigenous Knowledge Collaboration: Ontario Power Generation and Curve Lake First Nation Re: Darlington New Nuclear Project

Abstract

In the world of new nuclear projects and nuclear management, building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities is not always fully understood by proponents. The practice of engagement with Indigenous communities is still under development, leading proponents to define meaningful relationship themselves. This paper aims to describe how meaningful relationship works in practice, taking as an example the relationship between Curve Lake First Nation (CLFN) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) on the matter of new nuclear projects. Results demonstrate that proper support, willingness on both parties to go above and beyond regulatory requirements, as well as appropriate space to share and understand each other, are the main elements that define their relationship.