WSP provides support services for community-led Indigenous Knowledge and Indigenous Land and Resource Use. From initial study scoping with Indigenous groups considering regulatory requirements, and guided by community priorities, to facilitating the establishment of Knowledge Sharing Agreements, and integration of IK into environmental and social impact assessment and baseline studies. WSP seeks to validate the incorporation of IK with the knowledge providers to ensure appropriate representation.

WSP provides social impact assessment and social management planning services as part of regulatory processes throughout Canada. Where development has the potential to impact Indigenous Peoples, WSP undertakes work in a collaborative and inclusive manner with Indigenous Peoples, applying assessment and planning approaches that seek to reflect the concerns, aspirations, and perspectives of Indigenous communities and groups.

WSP helps clients achieve their objectives by advising them at all stages of a project on how to comply with provincial and local planning policy and best practice. Our team contributes to the identification, mitigation of developmental impacts and conservation of cultural heritage resources, delivering solutions that respect the environmental, aesthetic, cultural, and historical values that shape our communities and their collective identities.

WSP works with our clients to develop project-specific plans that incorporate Indigenous participation in the project’s whole lifecycle. IPPs build the foundation for long-term project success, contribute to Indigenous community development and help build meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities and businesses.

WSP works with Indigenous governments to work in partnership with municipal, territorial, and federal regulators and arms of government to facilitate collaborative development of environmental policy. Through the facilitation of steering committees, the development of reference materials and strategies grounded in principles of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), and the planning of community engagement to understand local and Indigenous perspectives, WSP ’s approach to policy facilitation is one that emphasizes collaboration and inclusion in the policy development process.

WSP considers project-specific workforce planning (employment) across the project lifecycle and can facilitate the development of Indigenous employment and training programs for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous clients to help projects provide the greatest benefit to local Indigenous people. We work with the client, local Indigenous employment and training organizations, and local communities and businesses to develop a program that provides long-term employment opportunities.

WSP facilitates Indigenous Consultation under the Crown’s Duty to Consult, supporting project regulatory compliance and permitting. We also support Indigenous communities in navigating the environmental regulatory framework for developments on reserve.

WSP works with Indigenous communities to achieve their community development goals by supporting infrastructure, land use, and planning initiatives. We also provide engineering design and build services for community infrastructure. This often includes socio-economic assessment.

WSP provides Indigenous engagement services for a full range of projects across all sectors. Engagement services include, but are not limited to, regulatory engagement on the behalf of developers pursuing permitting approvals and impact assessments, mine closure planning engagement with communities and governments, engagement on policy development and implementation, and engagement for both federal and provincial environmental assessment processes.

Meaningful engagement must come from a community-focused approach that respects the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and fosters early, open, and constructive two-way dialogue that ensures community members’ contributions are valued and communities remain informed.