Indigenous engineer takes helm of revived mining association

Kaella-Marie Earle from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island now leads the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association after the organization emerged from a four-year dormancy, according to Windspeaker.com. The organization officially returned at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference in Toronto this month. Indigenous leaders and mining executives attended the launch event, expressing enthusiasm for CAMA's offerings. The positive reception confirmed alignment between the organization's mission and the needs of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

Hans Matthews, who belongs to Wahnapitae First Nation in Northern Ontario, created CAMA in 1992 and remained its sole president until personal circumstances forced him to step away around the time COVID-19 struck in 2020.

Mining developments across Canada prompted renewed interest in the organization last year. Matthews received calls from people nationwide who recognized the need for CAMA's historical support services, Earle explained.

Matthews reached out to Earle and several others to help restart the association. Several months later, he appointed her to the presidency, a role she hadn't anticipated when agreeing to assist with the relaunch.

Earle brings engineering expertise to her new role while maintaining her residence in Sudbury, Ontario. She serves on Natural Resources Canada's Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council, where she advises three ministers and the prime minister on creating sustainable employment opportunities. Her work centers on Indigenous economic empowerment and how communities navigate the transition to net zero emissions, particularly regarding natural resource development.

Her travel schedule includes meetings with Canadians and Indigenous peoples to understand current labour market challenges. This year brings international collaboration opportunities as the NRCan council joins a global body focused on sustainable best practices. She will attend the inaugural meeting in Scotland this week and collaborate with the International Energy Agency in France to examine employment barriers Indigenous people face in the energy sector.

For six years, Earle has served as vice-chair of the Indigenous advisory committee at the Canada Energy Regulator. Her team helps executives and board members implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples throughout their operations, focusing on free and prior informed consent protocols and Indigenous oversight mechanisms.

She also teaches engineering part-time at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario.

CAMA operates on several foundational principles designed to expand its influence. The volunteer Indigenous-led organization ensures Indigenous Nations shape mining's future rather than watching from the sidelines.

Earle envisions CAMA as a bridge-builder in a fractured landscape. The organization created the first national forum where Indigenous communities and mining companies could meet as equals, enabling productive dialogue in an environment that previously lacked such opportunities. This function remains crucial given current national and international tensions.

Previously, CAMA helped communities and industry partners navigate environmental protection, community wellness, economic development and long-term partnerships. The organization also established standards for Indigenous participation in mining operations.

CAMA maintains strict neutrality regarding specific projects or companies. Rather than taking positions for or against particular initiatives, the organization provides information and builds capacity to support informed decision-making. This approach enables communities to grant or withhold consent confidently based on their priorities and values.

The organization plans to restart its annual national gathering, scheduling the 2026 conference for early November in Sudbury. This event will mark another milestone in CAMA's return to active operations after its pandemic-related pause.

Matthews' vision for Indigenous participation in Canada's mining sector continues through Earle's leadership, bringing fresh perspective to an organization poised to address contemporary challenges in resource development and Indigenous rights.

More information is now available at www.AboriginalMinerals.ca