Building a Holistic Framework to Support Free Prior and Informed Consent in Natural Resource Development

Written By Siomonn Pulla
Protests in Kelowna BC in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, February 2020 (Michael Rodriguez - Capital News)

Protests in Kelowna BC in support of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs, February 2020 (Michael Rodriguez - Capital News)

Obtaining full legal compliance with provincial and federal regulations is no longer considered sufficient to support the establishment of major resource development projects in Canada. In addition to obtaining regulatory and legal approvals via consultation — otherwise known as the duty to consult — industry have developed their own engagement processes to achieve a social license to operate (SLO). My research suggests that the concept of Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) can enable the establishment of a holistic framework by acting as a bridge between these parallel processes of consultation and engagement.

Pulla, Siomonn. 2020. Building a Holistic Framework to Support Informed Consent. British Columbia Forest Professional. Summer: 16-18.

Read the article here.

Siomonn Pulla

Dr. Siomonn Pulla is a seasoned scholar-practitioner specializing in collaborative research, Indigenous-Settler relations, and Indigenous rights, with a focus on fostering sustainable socio-economic development models and meaningful relationships. His extensive portfolio encompasses ethnohistorical and collaborative research projects pivotal to comprehensive land claims, resource development, and policy initiatives. Working coast to coast to coast in Canada, Dr. Pulla engages with First Nation, Métis, and Inuit communities, the corporate sector, and government agencies, delving into archival analysis, historical documentation, oral histories, museum collections and policy governance. Beyond his research, he shares his insights through teaching university courses on applied and qualitative research methodologies, and interdisciplinary theoretical paradigms, drawing from firsthand experiences to tackle pressing issues at the intersection of Indigenous rights, decolonization, and Indigenous-Settler relations. Siomonn’s work exemplifies his commitment to translating academic scholarship into tangible outcomes, driving positive change, and fostering understanding in society.

https://www.siomonnpulla.com
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