Project examines varying approaches to development

A University of Calgary researcher is drawing connections between the Little Red River Cree Nation and the Achuar people of Ecuador.

David Lertzman is an assistant professor in environmental management and sustainable development at the Haskayne School of Business.

After a trip to Ecuador, Lertzman started seeing parallels between northern and southern Indigenous communities.
“I looked north and saw Canada from down there and I couldn’t help connect with the boreal forest where many Indigenous Canadians live,” he said. “It hit me — although very distant and different, there are many shared themes.”

Lertzman is documenting how the Indigenous communities are dealing with development as both are facing potential oil developments on their traditional land.
Through video footage and interviews, Lertzman is learning that each community is taking a different stance.

“The Achuar people are really interested in development, but only if it’s on their terms.”

Lertzman said although the Achuar are adamantly against oil development, they are enthusiastic about developing renewable energy sources.

Lertzman said the northern part of the Ecuadorian Amazon has been negatively impacted by oil development, therefore the Achuar people want to prevent that from happening on their land.

On the other hand, the Little Red River Cree Nation is open to oil development, but want to be part of the decision-making process.

“They’ve decided to engage industry to help mentor more socially and environmental behaviours,” said Lertzman.

Already, much of the Little Red River Cree Nation has been affected by petroleum development, but are working with industry to minimize future impact.

“This project includes those who are actively involved with industry and have their own drilling operations all the way across to the Achuar who are not interested in negotiation or consultation,” said Lertzman.

Through this project, Lertzman hopes documenting the experiences of the Achuar people and the Little Red River Cree Nation will create an understanding of what Indigenous communities are up against.

“My intention is to develop tools or best practices for both industry and communities,” he said.

“I am not an advocacy group and I’m not an industry person. My value is my distance so that I can try and document what’s going on. I am building real relationships.”

Lertzman also said as a non-Aboriginal person he feels privileged to be engaged in this kind of research.

“There’s been a lot of learning on my behalf,” he said.
Through this project, Lertzman stands by his own value system that honours and respects Indigenous peoples.
“From a business ethics point of view, I maintain that it is not ethical to sacrifice Indigenous culture, land or traditions for resource development,” he said.

Contact with the Achuar people occurred in the 1970s so Lertzman said they still live a very traditional way of life. Lertzman said traditions on the Little Red River Cree Nation are also strong.

Lertzman hopes to eventually include other Indigenous communities in the project.