Above Ground and MiningWatch Canada co-organized an event series unpacking various issues surrounding so-called “critical minerals”. The growing global focus on prioritizing the exploration and extraction of minerals deemed of critical importance to economic security, defence and an energy transition comes with many questions about human rights – including Indigenous rights and labour rights –, environmental justice, and corporate accountability.
This series included three events: two webinars and an in-person meeting. During the first webinar, participants heard from Indigenous leaders around the world about Indigenous perspectives on the global critical minerals rush. During the second webinar, representatives from government and civil society discussed Canada’s approach to critical minerals at home and abroad. The final in-person meeting was a closed-door civil society discussion for strategizing around social, environmental and corporate justice advocacy related to critical minerals. Civil society members, including academics and legal experts working on related issues, attended and took part in roundtable discussions.
More details about each event are below.
Webinar 1: Indigenous perspectives on the global critical minerals rush
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10 AM ET
This webinar brought together five Indigenous speakers from around the world to discuss global, regional and local fights for justice related to the global push for critical minerals extraction. Panelists discussed specific harms and rights violations they are facing, what a “just” energy transition might look like, and what civil society groups working on related issues should know.
Languages: English, French and Spanish.
Speakers:
- Bryan Bixcul (Maya-Tz’utujil) is the Global Coordinator of Securing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights in the Green Economy (SIRGE) Coalition.
- Robeliza "Robie" Halip, Executive Director of the Right Energy Partnership with Indigenous Peoples’ Executive Director.
- Michel J. Koostachin, founder of Friends of the Attawapiskat River
- Kounsa Bailo Barry, a community representative for villages affected by the Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (the Guinean Bauxite Company or CBG). He will be the one presenting but will be joined by his colleague Sekouna Bah
- Paola Chindoy, president of the Asociación de Mujeres Indígenas Sabedoras de la Medicina Ancestral (the Association of Indigenous Women Knowledgeable in Ancestral Medicine or ASOMI), Colombia
Webinar 2: Canada’s approach to critical minerals at home and abroad
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 at 10 AM ET
This webinar brought together panelists from civil society and government to unpack and critique Canada’s approach to critical minerals at home and abroad. As Canada’s investment in critical minerals exploration and extraction expands, it is necessary for civil society to understand the government’s plans as well as the potential harms that could result from them.
Languages: English and French
Speakers:
- Nicole Uher (English) - Deputy Director, Critical Minerals Centre for Excellence, Natural Resources Canada
- Leah Gilbert Morris (English) - VP Public Affairs & International Relations, Export Development Canada
- Jamie Kneen (English) - MiningWatch Canada’s Outreach Coordinator and Canada Program Co-Lead
- Nicolas Hubert (French) - Associate Professor in the department of Societies, Territories and Development at the Université du Québec à Rimouski, and the Canada Research Chair in Territorial and Socio-Environmental Transitions
Climate justice, human rights and corporate accountability: A civil society strategizing session around the issue of critical minerals (In-person event with online option)
Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 9AM to 12PM
University of Ottawa (with online option)
The purpose of this event was to bring together civil society experts and advocates with various foci, including but not limited to climate action, human rights, Indigenous rights, labour rights, justice for harm caused by Canadian business activity at home, and justice for harm caused by Canadian business activity abroad. With support from the University of Ottawa’s Human Rights Research and Education Centre, this event invited advocates to participate in structured discussions in a roundtable format with the goal of building a shared strategy for countering harmful corporate and government narratives on critical minerals, and pushing for social and environmental justice in meaningful solidarity with Indigenous communities around the world.
Languages: English and French
Image: Esker near Authier in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Québec, an area covered by numerous mining claims and lithium exploration. Credit: Jeremie Stall-Paquet.
