Analyzing the NWMO’s Indigenous Engagement and Hosting Framework
This article is part of a series exploring the views and perspectives of youth, artists and community members working with the Melgund Integrated Nuclear Impact Assessment Project. This initiative is a climate entrepreneurship and arts-based community recreation program, developed through community consultation, engagement participation in the integrated impact assessment process for the NWMO’s proposed Deep Geological Repository for nuclear waste fuel.
What is Proposed
The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is transitioning from a multi-year site selection process to the formal regulatory phase for the proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR). Central to this proposal is the Adaptive Phased Management (APM) approach, which the proponent claims is built on a foundation of dialogue and a “Reconciliation Journey.” A key milestone identified in the Initial Project Description is the 2024 Hosting Agreement with the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON), which the NWMO characterizes as a grassroots demonstration of willingness to host the facility for its full duration.
Underlying Assumptions
- The willingness of specific political entities constitutes a broad social license for the entire impacted region.
- Confidential bilateral agreements are an acceptable substitute for transparent, public-facing environmental and social commitments.
- The expiration of formal funding agreements (Learn More Agreements) does not impede the ability of regional Nations to participate in the regulatory phase.
- Emotive and spiritual terminology can effectively bridge the gap between technical risks and community concerns.
Community Assessment
Our assessment reveals a significant gap between the NWMO’s narrative of “lasting relationships” and the lived reality of the project’s closest neighbors. While the proponent emphasizes its “Reconciliation Journey,” the critical observation remains that the Hosting Agreement with WLON is confidential. This opacity prevents residents in unorganized territories like Melgund, Dyment, and Borups Corners—located less than 10 kilometers from the site—from understanding the specific environmental safeguards or socio-economic mitigations being proposed. Furthermore, the expiration of several “Learn More Agreements” in late 2024 suggests a transactional approach to engagement rather than a long-term commitment to community capacity.
The community narrative analysis suggests that the NWMO utilizes marketing-heavy language, such as “birthed through ceremony” and the “agency of water,” to obscure a lack of substantive technical protections. For local residents whose property values and well-water safety are at stake, these philosophical statements are insufficient substitutes for rigorous hydrological modeling and clear, enforceable safety protocols. The exclusion of proximate non-Indigenous stakeholders from formal “willingness” processes further undermines the project’s local social license.
Path Forward
To improve the transparency and fairness of the process, the following measures are recommended: First, the proponent must provide a non-confidential summary of the Hosting Agreement’s key pillars, specifically regarding environmental oversight and community safety. Second, the NWMO should immediately renew and extend the “Learn More Agreements” to ensure regional Indigenous groups have the resources to participate in the Impact Assessment. Finally, a comprehensive Social Impact Assessment must be conducted for the unorganized communities of Melgund to address the specific risks of industrialization and heavy traffic that high-level corporate policies currently overlook.
About the Integrated Assessment Process
The federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has formally launched the integrated impact assessment process for the proposed Deep Geological Repository (DGR) for Canada’s Used Nuclear Fuel Project, a major national infrastructure initiative led by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).
The proposed underground repository is designed to permanently contain and isolate used nuclear fuel in a secure geological formation. Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace have been selected as host communities for the project. The site is located approximately 21 kilometres southeast of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and 43 kilometres northwest of Ignace, Ontario, near Highway 17.
According to project materials, the repository would provide permanent storage for approximately 5.9 million bundles of used nuclear fuel. The full lifecycle of the project is expected to span roughly 160 years, including site preparation, construction, operations, closure, and long-term monitoring.
Integrated Federal Review
Major nuclear projects in Canada are subject to an integrated assessment process jointly led by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). This “one project, one review” approach is intended to streamline regulatory oversight while ensuring rigorous evaluation of environmental, health, social, economic, and Indigenous rights impacts.
Under this framework, IAAC oversees the impact assessment requirements under the Impact Assessment Act, while the CNSC regulates nuclear safety under the Nuclear Safety and Control Act. The CNSC will issue the initial site preparation licence and manage all subsequent nuclear licensing for the project’s duration.
The integrated assessment also includes a focus on potential impacts on Indigenous Peoples, including rights, land use, cultural practices, health, and socio-economic conditions. Where potential adverse effects are identified, the process is intended to identify mitigation measures to reduce or avoid harm.
Public Comment Period Now Open
The first public comment period for the project is currently open and will run until February 4, 2026. During this phase, the public is invited to provide feedback on the Summary of the Initial Project Description submitted by the NWMO. Submissions received during this period will inform IAAC’s summary of issues, which will guide the next stages of the impact assessment. All comments submitted become part of the public project record and are posted to the federal Impact Assessment Registry.
This plain-language summary is provided by ECO-STAR North and Art Borups Corners to support public engagement.
Disclaimer: The views and perspectives expressed in this article are solely those of the independent arts program led by ECO-STAR North and Art Borups Corners. They do not reflect the official positions of the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) or the Government of Canada.
About the Author
