We all have a responsibility to ensure that our actions will not have an adverse impact on the surrounding air, water, or land.
We all share this planet, which means we all have a responsibility to ensure that we do not have an adverse impact on the surrounding air, water, or land.
Our scientists are professionally credentialed and trained to use universally accepted western sciences. However, we also have a unique ability to integrate Indigenous Knowledge systems into our work, which is essential when working on conserving Indigenous values to lands.
Our services in the area of Indigenous environmental services includes:
Environmental Assessments denote actions that may be necessary to prevent or mitigate adverse effects. The process entails an examination of the impacts of a proposal on the natural, social, cultural, and economic aspects of a community or landscape. 4 Directions staff specialize in the identification and collection of relevant information, which will form the basis for technically sound, community-based solutions.
Our environmental technical services are used to ensure that any activities will not have an adverse impact on the surrounding air, water, or land. At 4 Directions, our ecologists will support your community when environmental concerns arise in a professional and timely manner.
Environmental Policies can and often do change. At 4 Directions, we work to keep our clients updated and informed on the environmental planning process and its relationship with land use policy. We believe that careful environmental planning ensures that project processes balances social, environmental, and economic impacts and needs. To do so, we use an ecosystems approach that focuses on long-term sustainability through managing land, water and resources together. Our Environmental planning processes also include biodiversity conservation planning, species at risk conservation and recovery planning, as well as watershed and regional zone planning. 4 Directions can assist projects with mitigation and habitat management plans, as well as outline recommendations for compensation habitat and/or guide it through the permitting process under the Endangered Species Act.
4 Directions provide certified training the areas of culturally relevant and practical skill capacity building by combining both traditional and scientific knowledge. 4 Directions also specializes in training relating to engagement with Indigenous communities, stakeholders and groups, help projects to better incorporation of Indigenous perspectives even during their initial development. Our staff are First Nation members who foster safe learning environments focused on relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peers, colleagues and clients.
In Canada, there is a clear duty to consult with First Nations. The duty to consult and accommodate arises when the Crown contemplates actions or decisions that may affect an Aboriginal person's Aboriginal or Treaty rights.
We can assist clients in determining:
Our services in the area of Indigenous consultation and accommodation include:
4 Directions specializes in engagement with Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and groups. The engagement process results in decisions that incorporate Indigenous perspectives. Successful engagement begins early in the project process through effective communication based on relationship building. 4 Directions offers many services that assist with effective indigenous engagement, including Indigenous Engagement Plans and Training.
Our team’s training and experience in Indigenous engagements and formal consultation process mean we can custom build services for a wide variety of projects to undertake meaningful and serious Indigenous engagement.
We have extensive experience in the development of Indigenous engagement strategies. We also have significant expertise when it comes to planning and conducting Indigenous engagement activities. We focus on meaningful consultation and engagement processes and strive to create safe, collaborative environments to learn and share. Fostering productive, respectful, and reciprocal relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples is a goal that underlines all our work.
Our services include:
Our company is located within the Williams Treaty territory. We have direct, personal experience with affirming treaty rights, which has allowed us to form a stronger evaluation framework for projects affecting Indigenous lands.
Our services include:
We map how communities use land and water for hunting, trapping, fishing, plant gathering, camping, and many other important activities, as well as assess potential impacts on these activities from outside developments to help Indigenous communities assert their rights and interests in negotiations with industry and governments or in regulatory and environmental assessment processes.
Our services in this area include:
The archaeological assessment process in Ontario ensures that any archaeological resources on lands being developed are identified and appropriately evaluated and preserved prior to being impacted either through long-term protection/conservation or mitigation. Archaeological assessments may be required for land development (Planning Act), as part of the Environmental Assessment process, or in advance of land use activities (quarrying, pipeline installation, forestry). 4 Directions’ experienced team of licensed archaeologists can support our clients through the archaeological assessment process, provide technical advice, and complete expert reviews of consultant reports following the Ontario Heritage Act and to meet the requirements of the provincial government. Our team of experts can also provide education and training for community members, Indigenous and non-Indigenous archaeological field monitors, and clients.
Climate change has far-reaching impacts on First Nations and other communities. It impacts not only the environment, but also our ecosystems, infrastructure, and the economy.
The impacts of climate change are being observed by First Nations across Canada including:
Your community’s needs change, we can help you plan for better change.
In particular, we can help you with:
We specialize in creative project definition. We find a way to develop and design projects to get the outcome you desire. We provide creative solutions founded in both western science and Traditional Knowledge Systems. If you are not sure where to start and just want to talk it through with someone, we are a great first call. No obligations, just direction and information to ensure that a project is designed with the best resources and the best project plan in place.
We are a leader in conservation ecology and indigenous engagement planning in Canada.
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