As someone who works in the…

As someone who works in the cultural heritage industry for an Indigenous owned business and directly with First Nations communities, some of these changes are very concerning. Specifically the ability of the Crown to unilaterally make a decision on exempting properties from archaeological assessment without proper consultation and involvement of First Nations communities. This would be a HUGE step backward in our commitment to reconciliation. The statement that areas associated with significant archaeological sites would not be exempt is laughable as those significant sites are found through the archaeological assessment process. Without this process, we don't know that those sites are there until they are destroyed, if at all. The archaeological assessment process allows the proper documentation of Indigenous cultural history before it is removed from the landscape. Without proper documentation, we are erasing Indigenous history, culture, and spirit from the land and we are no better than early colonizers who tried to erase Indigenous culture and assimilate Indigenous people into a settler system. The government may suggest that these measures will only be used in special cases (like MZOs or priority transit projects); however, by creating a space where archaeological assessments are not universal, virtually any proponent in the listed industries will seek an exemption and this also holds the potential for corruption. How and by what criteria will exemptions be established? Who will ensure that exemptions are not made for friends or supporters of the Crown? Will the system be transparent or handled by Orders in Council? Will the system include free, prior, and informed consent from Indigenous communities whose Treaty Rights are impacted by these projects? Has anyone considered UNDRIP and how this impacts Indigenous Rights? How did this pass first reading when most of my First Nations contacts in Consultation departments were unaware that this even existed? Perhaps the reform needs to be done internally by finding ways to speed up the archaeological report review process rather than changing the OHA in a way that negatively impacts Indigenous culture and presence on the landscape. Some things to consider.