Bioenergy development and the implications for the social wellbeing of Indigenous peoples in Canada

Abstract

In this article, we focus on wellbeing as an important concept relating to bioenergy development in Canada. We use a three-dimensional or social approach to understanding wellbeing, which includes subjective and relational aspects in addition to the more traditional material dimension of wellbeing (e.g. financial resources, a healthy environment). Indigenous business leaders engaged in forestry, energy, and related resource sectors were recruited through our partner organization, the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, as a representative sample of key people to be engaged in the scoping of existing and future bioenergy partnerships in Canada. Participants often responded in ways that did not discretely fit into categories, but instead reflected a perspective on their own and their community's dimensions of social wellbeing, which we captured through open coding for emergent themes. Our findings on material wellbeing illustrate that relationships between different wellbeing dimensions need to be considered for community-appropriate bioenergy development.

Wellbeing of Indigenous Peoples in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the United States: A Systematic Review

“…Forty-three [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ] papers came from Canada; ‘Indigenous peoples in Canada’ is used to collectively report on the aspects of wellbeing as reported in the included papers for First Nations, Métis and Inuit [ 59 ].…”

“…Family and community was reported by 31 papers as important to the wellbeing of the Indigenous peoples in Canada [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 57 ]. Community is broadly defined as those you have connections and communication with, and it is not limited by geographic location.…”

“…In the included papers, the quality and maintenance of connections and communication with community was described as a central component to one’s wellbeing. Community connection and communication played a significant role in wellbeing for community members [ 19 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 39 , 42 , 43 , 46 , 47 , 57 ], especially when able to find positive and trusting relationships within the community [ 19 , 22 , 29 , 30 , 35 , 36 , 47 ]. This was emphasised as important when able to speak freely without fear of judgement, which improved overall wellbeing [ 19 , 22 , 29 , 30 , 35 , 36 , 47 ].…”

“…Some papers reported that the wellbeing of the entire community required cohesion and self-determination, with strong leadership, guidance and teaching from Elders, and collective decision making that prioritised the needs of the community [ 17 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 35 , 36 , 39 , 45 , 48 , 51 , 54 , 55 , 57 ].…”

Does Social Businesses Development Affect Bioenergy Industry Growth under the Pathway of Sustainable Development?

“…Bioenergy business development relies on many factors such as the capability of governments at various levels to create enabling conditions for business growth through policy development and policies, efforts to remove barriers to technology implementation beyond the stage of R&D, and issues related to the global diffusion of technology in development. For example, [31] investigates social well-being as an important concept related to the development of bioenergy, suggesting that material well-being illustrates that the relationships between the different dimensions of social well-being should be considered for the development of bioenergy appropriate for the community.…”