Resources & Infrastructure
The Resource and Infrastructure department is the first point of contact for all development proposals within Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory. Our role is to assess the potential impacts of resource extraction and development on the environment and the SON way of life.
Core Objectives:
- Develop and implement consultation protocols under the direction of Joint Council
- Protect SON Rights and Interests throughout the Territory
- Review relevant legislation, policy, and proposed projects
- Ensure the Crown upholds its Duty to Consult and during licensing and approvals in the Territory
- Facilitate meaningful engagement with proponents to ensure SON values and concerns are addressed
- Promote respectful development that aligns with SON priorities and stewardship responsibilities
Mandate
Collaborating with knowledge holders, experts, and technical staff, the Resources and Infrastructure team formulates consultation plans tailored to each project's unique needs.
By weaving Western and Indigenous knowledge systems for a more robust process, we strive to minimize the impact to natural and cultural resources. Our team works to ensure consultation is occurring at the earliest stages of development and that, where inevitable impacts arise, we diligently work to implement appropriate accommodations.
The Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) Environment Office operates with the Joint Chiefs and Councils of Chippewas of Nawash Unceded and Saugeen First Nations. Through the lens of two-eyed seeing, our office ensures that SON's Aboriginal and treaty rights are respected through the duty to consult and free, prior and informed consent.
Consultation
The Resource and Infrastructure department works diligently to process all requests for consultation for any type of proposed development occurring within the SON Territory. It is critical that SON be engaged in meaningful Consultation on all projects and activities that have the potential to impact SON’s Aboriginal and Treaty rights and interests, and that have the potential to impact or change the environment of SON Territory.
- Aggregate Resource Act License requests
- Planning and Development Application requests
- Municipal, Provincial and Federal Infrastructure Development
- Permits to take water Responsibilities
- Public Lands Development requests
- Linear development requests
- Forestry
Consultation in land use planning, management, protection and accessibility within the SON Territory
- Parks Management
- Municipal Land use planning
- Conservation Authority
- Land Trusts
- Public education on rights in the SON Territory
Archaeology
The Resources and Infrastructure department is the primary contact for all proposed archaeology work occurring in the SON Territory to protect SON cultural heritage, our ancestors and their belongings. We encourage early engagement with our office in order to provide the necessary guidance on proposed archaeological studies.
The Archaeology team works to ensure that all archaeological activities within Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territory meet both SON and provincial standards. We proactively engage with municipalities, proponents, developers, and archaeological firms to ensure they understand their duty to consult with SON and to support respectful and informed processes.
Core Objectives:
- Monitor archaeological assessments throughout SON Territory
- Advocate for SON’s Rights & Interests
- Manage, protect, and catalog SON’s archaeological resources
- Review and respond to all inquiries in the Territory
- Work to repatriate artifacts from museums, private collections
- Archaeology training, workshops, gallery exhibits, and public events for SON Members
Other activities:
- Reviewing archaeological assessment reports
- Coordination with archaeology consultants
- Supervision and guidance of burial site disturbance
- Consultation and guidance in the development of Archaeological Management Plans
- On-going advocacy for policy change
Contact SON Archaeology at the earliest stage when planning required archaeological assessments.
For first time inquiries, please email with property address and site information
The Province’s rich cultural diversity is one of its distinctive and defining features. Indigenous communities have a unique relationship with the land and its resources, which continues to shape the history and economy of the Province today. Ontario recognizes the unique role Indigenous communities have in land use planning and development, and the contribution of Indigenous communities’ perspectives and traditional knowledge to land use planning decisions. The Province recognizes the importance of consulting with Aboriginal communities on planning matters that may affect their section 35 Aboriginal or treaty rights. Planning authorities are encouraged to build constructive, cooperative relationships through meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities to facilitate knowledge-sharing in land use planning processes and inform decision-making.
The 2020 Provincial Policy Statement requires the conservation and protection of cultural resources.
2.6 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology
2.6.1 Significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved.
2.6.2 Development and site alteration shall not be permitted on lands containing archaeological resources or areas of archaeological potential unless significant archaeological resources have been conserved.
2.6.3 Planning authorities shall not permit development and site alteration on adjacent lands to protected heritage property except where the proposed development and site alteration has been evaluated and it has been demonstrated that the heritage attributes of the protected heritage property will be conserved. 2.6.4 Planning authorities should consider and promote archaeological management plans and cultural plans in conserving cultural heritage and archaeological resources.
2.6.5 Planning authorities shall engage with Indigenous communities and consider their interests when identifying, protecting and managing cultural heritage and archaeological resources.
