Participation and Decision-Making

Addressing Aboriginal Issues in Regional Committees

We believe that our involvement in regional committees enhances our ability to address Aboriginal issues. Through the Oil Sands Leadership Initiative we work with four other energy companies to ensure substantial progress on our environmental, social and economic performance in producing the oil sands. We formed a task group that focuses on social impacts related to youth and education in Aboriginal communities. Since 2009, the Sustainable Communities program has been piloted in Janvier/Chard. Learnings from this pilot model will be applied to other communities to create lasting effect in local communities.

ConocoPhillips Canada was an active participant in the Athabasca Tribal Council’s All Parties Core Agreement management committee. The agreement was to be a common benefits understanding between industry operators and Athabasca Tribal Council members. We believed it was a vehicle to address many concerns for local communities. However, the Athabasca Tribal Council has stopped developing the agreement. As a result, we will focus on renewing our agreements with individual First Nations through memorandums of understanding or benefits agreements. Our primary focus is identifying ways to share benefits across communities over the duration of our projects.

Aboriginal Cultural Growth and Preservation

Cultural vitality is an outcome of supporting and building healthy, sustainable communities. We approach communities holistically, get to know community leaders and members, and support and value indigenous cultures, languages and traditions.

• We annually fund Treaty Days celebrations in several communities.
• We work closely with Aboriginal community members and youth through the Gen Y: We Care program to provide programs and activities about current issues and traditional teachings.
• We regularly sponsor culture camps for youth and Elders that are organized by various communities close to our operations.
• We continue to fund traditional land-use studies at Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation and the Métis community of Conklin.

We strive to honour distinct cultures, languages and traditional pursuits. This is a long-term process built on trust and respect, new skills, services and business capacities.

Aboriginal Awareness Training

We require our employees to complete a level of Aboriginal cultural awareness training consistent with their level of engagement with Aboriginal communities. Forty-nine personnel attended this training in 2007, as part of our commitment set out in Cooperation Agreements with First Nations located near our Surmont Project. This training takes a tiered approach to provide the appropriate level of training for key employees. There are three levels of awareness training: an introductory level for most employees, a more in-depth training for managers and others whose decisions may have a direct impact on Aboriginal relations and communities, and a comprehensive level, including cultural immersion for key persons and some senior managers.