Resource Royalties Distribution and Community Development (ReSDA)

The project Resource Royalities Distribution and Community Development is part of Resource and Sustainable Development in the Arctic (ReSDA) and analyses the different types of ressources distributions chosen by the communities to redistribute the royalities received by the mining industry. 
The Negotiation of IBAs between resource development companies and Aboriginal communities often include provisions for the payments of royalties and/or profit shares. These payments are generally meant to be distributed back to communities. However, there are no uniform ways to distribute them. They may be distributed directly to individuals or used for community projects. In fact, not much is known about the modes of distribution used to share these payments and their impacts on local communities. What are the social and economic impacts of various types of distribution? Are there modes that can better mitigate the impacts of a non-renewable development on Aboriginal communities? Are some modes of distribution better/worse at giving the capacity to communities to benefit from this wealth? We do not have answers to these questions. This research project will attempt to bridge this knowledge gap by achieving the following three objectives.
  1. Making a list of various methods used by Aboriginal communities and organisations to distribute royalties and profit shares paid by resource companies.
  2. Identifying the characteristics of each modes of distributions, their qualities and flaws.
  3. Identifying the most sustainable practices and those that allow communities to benefit economically and socially from the royalties.

Our overall objectives is to make the data and analysis available to communities so that those who are expecting royalties and profit shares from resource companies will be able to make enlightened decisions by knowing what are the different modes of distribution available to them.

Mélissa Rouillard Volle, Master candidate

Ève Harbour Marsan, Master candidate

Rémy Darith Chhem
Remy has a master degree in anthropology. His thesis deals with access to urban land and housing after the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia (1979-1993). As part of the Research Chair, he participates in the Resource Royalties Distribution and Community Development project. Through surveys and case study fieldwork, this research attempts to identify the most sustainable practices in distributing royalties and those that benefit most to communities, economically and socially.

Deogratias Safali
Deogratias Safali was a research assistant in the field of Natural Resource Economics. He holds a Honour's degree in Economics from University of the Western Cape in Cape Town (South Africa) and is has a master degree in public affairs in Laval University. His areas of research include the development of non-renewable resources with special emphasis on their economic impacts on local communities. He is an active member of CIÉRA-Université Laval.

Juliette Bastide
Juliette Bastide has a master degree in political science from Laval University, Juliette Bastide is interested in issues of indigenous governance in northern regions. She holds a licence in social sciences and economics from the Institut Catholique de Paris and she has conducted a study session at the Yukon College in Whitehorse.

  • Rodon, T., Schott, S. & Lemus-Lauzon, I. 2018. «Impact and Benefit Agreement (IBA) Revenue Allocation Strategies for Indigenous Community Development», Northern Review, 47 (2018): 9-29.
  • Rodon, T. & F. Lévesque. 2014. Gap Analysis: Mining Development in Canada. Prepared for ReSDA.
  • The team did a first presentation of the results at the ReSDA annual meeting in Ottawa, in October 2016.
  • The results have been analysed and the report and podcast are on their way
  • Two field works have been conducted in 2016: one at the Red Dog mine in Alaska and another one in Kingfisher Lake, in northern Ontario.
  • The phone survey has now ended
  • The team is planning the realization of two fieldworks during winter 2016.