Beausoleil First Nation - Land Use Policies

Policies for land use issues, Beausoleil First Nation

Our approach to the landscape is through Conservation Planning principles.  Incite Planning has been working with Beausoleil First Nation to help resolve many interrelated land-use issues.  

One is the intensive use of the community’s traditional territory by the wider society.  This has increased the need for a rigorous response by the First Nation.  Thus, we were retained to reserach the policy implications of Consultation and to help facilitate several community meetings to listen to the concerns of community members regarding Accommodation.  We prepared a Duty to Consult and Accommodate Handbook, along with background materials for staff, Chief & Council, and community members.

Another issue we have looked at were ways to address property issues between neighbours within the community.  This involved researching dispute resolution methods and writing a Dispute Resolution Policy to resolve conflicts arising from the individual use of land.

Incite Planning was also involved in efforts to protect Ice-Aged Grass (Aristida basiramea) , also referred to as Gchi-gete’ii Mkomii-miishkoons in the  Anishinaabemowin language of Christian Island.  We researched all the available background documentation on this endangered species.  Assistance was provided to the consulting biologist and the community’s Environmental Specialist trainee, to monitor some of the sub-population habitats.  As part of the national Recovery Strategy prepared for Gchi-gete’ii Mkomii-miishkoons (Forked Three-awned Grass/Aristida basiramea), we drafted a Recovery Action Plan according to its particular biological and ecological characteristics, and the culture and intentions unique to this locale, including a stewardship of conservation land agreement form for property owners.  It was Strategic in approach, assigning tasks and targets, and followed Community Development principles, with community members vetting the plan.

The issue of the Council acquisition of lands held under Certificates of Possession is a delicate matter.  We revised and updated a dormant policy and manual that addressed the transfers of land between the First Nation and its members.  The resulting Land Acquisition Policy included a community consultation process and briefs to Chief & Council.