This projects has two main objectives:
- Creating a knowledge network between Quebec and Nordic Countries to better understand the social and health impacts of resources development projects for indigenous communities and populations (Sami, Cree and Inuit) and to foster a reflection on sustainable resource development models for Northern indigenous communities. The Network activities will focus on sharing research results amongst Quebec and Nordic researchers (graduate students and professors) but also amongst indigenous communities from the Arctic and High North (Inuit, Cree and Sami) taking the form of a workshop (accredited for graduate students).
- Developing a research agenda for projects on resource development in indigenous communities and territories. This agenda will be built by researchers and community representatives in order to encourage Quebec/Nordic collaborations. The research projects fostered by this activity will be submitted to this program next year.
Extractive Industries, Arctic Indigenous People and Sustainable Development: Cross-perspectives from Quebec and European Nordic Countries is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers.
- Nordic Council of Ministers
- Ministère des Relations internationales et Francophonie
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Thierry Rodon, Laval University, Canada (Main researcher)
- Peter Sköld, Arctic Research Center, Umeå University, Sweden
- Florian Stammler, Sustainable Development Research Group, University of Lapland, Finland
- Peter Bjerregaard, National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
- Hoogensen-Gjørv Gunhild, Norges arktiske universitet, University of Trondheim, Norway
- Mylène Riva, Médecine sociale et préventive, Laval University, Canada
Stéphanie Benoit, PhD candidate, Laval University
Stéphanie's interests are on social impacts and governance as part of northern mining activities. On the one hand, her research will analyze how the social environment of Nunavimiut, Nunavumiut, Sweden’s Sami and New Caledonia’s Kanak is structured and impacted by the mining explorations. On the other hand, her research will show the dynamics of stakeholders and institutions decisions taking processes within this context.
Julie Fortin, PhD candidate, Laval University
PhD candidate in public communication, Julie is interested in Cree and Inuit communities’ influence within the evaluation and authorization process surrounding mining projects in northern Quebec, as well as their capacity to offer a free, prior and informed consent. She holds a master degree in public communication from Laval University. Her master’s thesis focused on the communication between Hydro-Québec and the Innu communities in the context of La Romaine hydroelectric project and more specifically on the Innu’s concerns regarding consultations, negotiations and the project’s impacts.
An international workshop on the relationships between mines and indigenous people in Northern Europe and Northern Quebec was held in Umeå, Sweden 
on November 26-27th 2014. Stéphanie Benoit, Julie Fortin, Tania Gybérien, Thierry Rodon took part in the event as well as Adamie Delisle-Alaku, V-P. exécutive at Makivik, Andy Baribeau, from the Grand Council of the Crees of Eeyou Istchee, and Chesley Andersen, V-P. of Labradors Affairs at Aurora Energy Resources.