Work Rooted in Respect for Indigenous Rights and Decision Making Authoirty.
Our work combines rigorous technical methods with respectful engagement to identify potential interactions and considerations early.
Indigenous Rights as affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 and recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), include Treaty Rights and Aboriginal Rights. These inherent and collective Rights encompass the ability of Indigenous Peoples to engage in, maintain, develop, and revitalize activities based on customs, practices, and traditions integral to their cultures. TWC’s approach reflects this understanding and applies Indigenous Nations’ understandings and descriptions of their Rights in assessment contexts.
Rights & Interests Assessment Projects
Rights & Interests Assessment
As independent technical advisors, we help clients navigate evolving policy environments and support constructive dialogue that contributes to informed decision making, transparency, and proactive management of potential impacts.
How We Work:
Our team works across Indigenous led, collaborative, and proponent-led regulatory assessment models, supporting analyses that respond to Indigenous Nation expectations while meeting provincial, territorial, and federal regulatory requirements for the assessment of major projects across Canada. We work collaboratively with Indigenous Nations to identify methodological and Indigenous Knowledge contributions relevant to rights assessment, define key issues of concern, and inform project design and assessment scope. We work across disciplines to understand how effects on biophysical and socioeconomic valued components may affect Indigenous rights and advise on the development of mutually acceptable measures to avoid, minimize, or address potential adverse effects.
Aurora Van Buren, BSc
Principal, Rights & Interests Assessment
Aurora Van Buren brings extensive experience working with Indigenous Nations across Canada to document Indigenous Knowledge for Indigenous governments and for regulatory and consultation processes. She has served as a technical lead on both provincial and federal impact assessments and has provided expert testimony for review panels. Aurora is known for developing new assessment methods that respond to emerging project risks and evolving expectations. A skilled public speaker and facilitator, she has also led open houses and workshops for complex and high‑profile projects.
