
METLAKATLA
FIRST NATION
Metlakatla is a progressive Tsimshian community located in a pristine environment near Prince Rupert, British Columbia. In 2014, the Metlakatla First Nation and the Metlakatla Stewardship Society initiated the Metlakatla CEM Program by organizing a team of staff, consultants, and university researchers to develop the program framework and methods.
What are cumulative effects?
CUMULATIVE
EFFECTS
are changes to the environment or human well-being from past, present, and future development projects and human activities.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
ASSESSMENT (CEA)
is an assessment of those changes. Focuses on projects and activities (sources of impact) to assess and understand impacts.
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
MANAGEMENT (CEM)
links assessment information to decision making by outlining mitigation and management strategies designed to prevent undesirable impacts to values. Focuses on values (receiving environment) to manage the overall condition of values.
"MADE FOR
METLAKATLA"
FRAMEWORK
The Metlakatla CEM Program is an Indigenous-led resource management tool uniquely designed to support Metlakatla First Nation decision making and the needs of Metlakatla people. Metlakatla values, ethics and principles are taught by Metlakatla Elders and history and guide how the CEM Program is developed and conducted. Guidance on cumulative effects methods developed through research and various initiatives over the past 20 years also informed the Metlakatla CEM Program framework and its methods.

CEM
Decision
Context
GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE METLAKATLA CEM PROGRAM
The CEM Program must be
CULTURALLY RELEVANT.
The Metlakatla worldview is a unique expression of Metlakatla culture. A culturally relevant CEM Program will incorporate that worldview into methods to ensure a culturally appropriate outcome.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL COLLABORATION is necessary to manage priority Metlakatla values.
Cooperation among Metlakatla departments results in more informed decision making. Collaboration with other orders of government and First Nations can help increase awareness of impacts and lead to better management. CEM will strive to pool resources among implementation partners to increase the long-term success of the program.
CEM is a PROGRAM
NOT A PROJECT.
There are many Metlakatla values, and those values can change over time, as can the development context. As a result, the CEM Program is designed to be long-term and iterative, with multiple opportunities for critical reflection and improvements.
SUMMARY OF METHODS
2014 - 2015
What does Metlakatla care about and want to manage?
Phase 1 was led by Compass Resource Management as an expert resource to Metlakatla Stewardship Society with research support from SFU. Through community-based research on values and indicators, Metlakatla identified 10 priority values and chose 4 as pilot values: Food, Social, and Ceremonial (FSC) Activity, Housing, Butter Clams, and Employment.
2018 - ONGOING
How does Metlakatla take action to manage values?
Several initiatives are currently underway to monitor, manage, and mitigate cumulative effects for pilot values. A governance component has also been initiated that examines how CEM results can be extended to environmental assessment, land/marine use planning, and the Metlakatla treaty process.
2015 - ONGOING
What is the condition of Metlakatla values?
SFU increased its role by building on previous work to design and administer the Metlakatla Membership Census to collect much-needed baseline data on socio-economic values. SFU researchers consulted with clam experts to design and implement a monitoring protocol for butter clams, which involved interviews with clam harvesters and Elders to better understand the longterm trend of clam populations.
2017 - 2018
When do we start getting worried about values and decide to act?
Management triggers are a series of markers that reflect increasing levels of concern about the condition of a value. The triggers mark the points at which new or more intensive management actions are taken to restore or improve the condition of the value. We decided to use the structured decision-making process with a Metlakatla member-based working group to set management triggers for 3 pilot values.
SUMMARY OF METHODS

2014 - 2015
What does Metlakatla care about and want to manage?
Phase 1 was led by Compass Resource Management as an expert resource to Metlakatla Stewardship Society with research support from SFU. Through community-based research on values and indicators, Metlakatla identified 10 priority values and chose 4 as pilot values: Food, Social, and Ceremonial (FSC) Activity, Housing, Butter Clams, and Employment.
2018 - ONGOING
How does Metlakatla take action to manage values?
Several initiatives are currently underway to monitor, manage, and mitigate cumulative effects for pilot values. A governance component has also been initiated that examines how CEM results can be extended to environmental assessment, land/marine use planning, and the Metlakatla treaty process.
2015 - ONGOING
What is the condition of Metlakatla values?
SFU increased its role by building on previous work to design and administer the Metlakatla Membership Census to collect much-needed baseline data on socio-economic values. SFU researchers consulted with clam experts to design and implement a monitoring protocol for butter clams, which involved interviews with clam harvesters and Elders to better understand the longterm trend of clam populations.
2017 - 2018
When do we start getting worried about values and decide to act?
Management triggers are a series of markers that reflect increasing levels of concern about the condition of a value. The triggers mark the points at which new or more intensive management actions are taken to restore or improve the condition of the value. We decided to use the structured decision-making process with a Metlakatla member-based working group to set management triggers for 3 pilot values.
CEM Values Foundation
Through an extensive community engagement process, Metlakatla identified 20 candidate values and selected 10 priority values, 4 of which became the focus of a pilot project

CULTURAL IDENTITY
Łooda Goo Wilaaym

SOCIAL/HEALTH
Yugyetk

ENVIRONMENT
La̱x Yuubm

ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
sagayt gat lledm

GOVERNANCE
Int Ałbag̱an Kwduunm
CEM Values Foundation
Through an extensive community engagement process, Metlakatla identified 20 candidate values and selected 10 priority values, 4 of which became the focus of a pilot project

CULTURAL IDENTITY
Łooda Goo Wilaaym

SOCIAL/HEALTH
Yugyetk

ENVIRONMENT
La̱x Yuubm

ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
sagayt gat lledm

GOVERNANCE
Int Ałbag̱an Kwduunm
METLAKATLA PROJECT
TIMELINE
CURRENT PROJECTS
Off-reserve Housing Needs Assessment for Metlakatla Renters in the City of Prince Rupert
Redefining Economic Prosperity Values and Indicators in the Metlakatla CEM Program
Restoring Participation in Harvesting Activities: Adaptive Management Approach for Cultural Values in the Metlakatla CEM Program
CEM Communications and Governance Initiative
Developing a Protocol for Restoring Intertidal Clam Beaches using Traditional Clam Garden Practices
2019 Intertidal Clam Surveys in Metlakatla Territory
Engaging with External Stakeholders to Implement a CEM Strategy for Housing in Prince Rupert
Assessing Energy Values and Management Options for Metlakatla Village
CEM PROGRAM
UPDATES & ANNOUNCEMENTS
RECENT NEWS
December 20, 2019
UPDATE
The current project timeline has been updated. Please look forward
to additional information that will be announced throughout the month…
December 20, 2019
ANNOUNCEMENT
The current project timeline has been updated. Please look forward
to additional information that will be announced.
December 20, 2019
UPDATE
The current project timeline has been updated. Please look forward
to additional information that will be announced.