When done right, reconciliation is the foundation for progress.Blair Gable/Reuters
Deliah Bernard is the former senior Indigenous affairs adviser to prime minister Justin Trudeau and the co-founder of the Indigenous affairs agency Roots Strategies.
With Indigenous protests heating up around the country after the passing of federal and provincial legislation to fast-track development projects, Canadians are once again reflecting on our shared past, and the kind of future we want to build together.
There is no doubt about the crises we face today – and the urgency with which they must be addressed. Yet from resource development to infrastructure expansion, governments continue to struggle with a fundamental tension: how to consult meaningfully with Indigenous communities without allowing process to paralyze progress.
This is not a new problem.
For generations, Indigenous Peoples have called for consultation that is early, respectful, and rooted in partnership – not just procedural checkboxes to satisfy legal obligations. Obligations which, to be frank, many still don’t fully understand.
At the same time, Canada is under increasing pressure to act. Strategic projects aimed at addressing energy security, climate resilience, and infrastructure gaps cannot wait indefinitely.
What’s needed now is not less consultation – but smarter consultation.
We need to move beyond the idea that Indigenous engagement is a barrier. In fact, it should be seen as a core design principle that ultimately strengthens outcomes. Early, co-developed processes build trust and reduce the likelihood of costly delays, legal battles, or public opposition. Done right, consultation doesn’t slow things down – it makes things possible.
Let’s take a closer look at the current push to accelerate nation-building projects. Some First Nations are raising concerns – rightfully so – about being left out of decision-making. Though, when reading the contents of the federal government’s Bill C-5, it may be difficult for the general public to understand that frustration. But from the viewpoint of many First Nations, the issue is not consultation for consultation’s sake – it’s about understanding how these projects will benefit everyone, including the Indigenous communities whose lands and lives are most directly affected, one of the fundamental aims of free, prior and informed consent.
Consider the real challenges: housing crises, aging infrastructure, food insecurity, and the lack of accessible roads in and out of remote areas. For once, there appears to be a growing consensus between federal and provincial governments that these are shared priorities – and that collaboration is possible. If done right, national projects could bring meaningful improvements to these communities for generations to come.
But meaningful engagement also means understanding the broader social context. When development reaches remote and rural Indigenous communities, it often brings unintended harms, like increased access to dangerous substances and pressure on already overburdened or limited health services, leaving Indigenous leaders to navigate the gaps.
That said, we must also recognize that engagement isn’t a limitless process. Endless rounds of meetings without decisions serve no one. A clear, respectful framework is essential: one that honours Indigenous rights, recognizes community capacity limitations, and sets transparent timelines and expectations for all involved. Indigenous communities want to be heard – but they also want to see results.
We can take inspiration from successful models: Indigenous-led infrastructure projects, revenue-sharing agreements, and co-management boards that have shown the power of collaboration. These aren’t hypotheticals – they’re working frameworks across regions like British Columbia, Ontario, and the Atlantic coast.
During National Indigenous History Month in June, we were asked not just to remember the past but to actively shape the future. That means creating a country where partnership replaces paternalism, and where consultation empowers – not impedes – nation-building.
Reconciliation is not a roadblock. When done right, it’s the foundation for progress.