MEMA Database

The MEMA Information Database is a compilation of over 750 documents that relate to engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and formed the basis for the MEMA Reports I & II. The documents may be legislation and regulations, or it may be guidance and recommendations by governments, Arctic Council, academia, NGOs, industry and Indigenous People.

This database may be interrogated in many ways, such as by source (government, Arctic Council, Indigenous Peoples, industry, academia, NGO, or the UN), or by type of activity (oil and gas, marine management, shipping, tourism, preparedness/response, and scientific research) or by country. Each entry has a link to the document and has metadata containing a summary of the engagement in the document, whether it is law, agreement or guidance, who is being engaged, key words, and the stage of engagement, among other parameters.

We are excited to share this database and encourage its use. This is a living document that can be updated.

No.	Document Name	Year	Sector	Group	Contributor	Purpose of Document	Type of Document	Purpose	Who is being engaged	Key Words	Principles	Stage	Mechanism	Recommendations for Engagement	Case Study/ Example	Notes	Download
11	Outreach Plan for 2015 Arctic Survey Projects	2015	Research	Government	NOAA	Will map a proposed marine corridor into the Arctic via the Bering Strait.	Handout		Industry, Researchers, Local communities, Indigenous peoples	Informed, information sharing		Information gathering	Inform interested stakeholders on surveys, receiving updates on Arctic activities. Initiate conversations with tribal councils/organizations, face to face or phone.				011_3 - NOAA Arctic Surveys Outreach Outline.pdf
12	An Evaluation of the Science Needs to Inform Decisions on Outer Continental Shelf Energy Development in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas, Alaska	2011	Resource Development	Government	US Geological Survey	Highlight needs for making informed decisions on where to permit energy development on the Arctic outer continental shelf	Guidelines		Industry, Researchers, Local communities, Indigenous peoples	Local knowledge, Collaboration		Information gathering		Local residents first to notice changes in fish and wildlife populaitons, mechanisms should be developed to better solicit and integrate their LTK as a basic source of information. Useful in identifying changes in distribution and abundance of species, identifying biases in survey design.		No mention of TK with respect to biodiversity research.	012_USGS-Arctic Offshore Recommendations circ1370.pdf
13	Report of Traditional Knowledge Workshops ƒ?? Point Lay, Barrow, Nuiqsut, and Kaktovik by Stephen R. Braund & Associates for EPA Chukchi and Beaufort Seas National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Exploration General Permits Reissuance	2011	Resource Development	Government	US Environmental Protection Agency	The purpose of this project is to facilitate the incorporation of this long-term and intimate understanding that the IÇñupiat of the North Slope have of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas into EPAƒ??s permitting process	Report		Local Governments, organizations, local communities, indigenous peoples	Traditional knowledge, Consultation, Inform		Information gathering	Informing of project - EPA visited Point Hope, Point Lay, Wainwright, Barrow, Nuiqsut, and Kaktovik to share information regarding the Beaufort and Chukchi oil and gas exploration NPDES general permits reissuance process and to discuss EPAƒ??s intent to collect TK information for these permit. Interview, workshop, - for gathering knowledge on physical and biological environment, subsistence use, and knowledge, observations and concerns about discharges			One broad definition of TK defined it as the ƒ??knowledge developed by a given culture to classify the objects, activities, and events of its universeƒ? (Hardesty 1977:291). While there have been many definitions, generally all of the definitions are based on the acknowledgement that indigenous peoples who live on the land and harvest its resources have an intimate understanding of their environment grounded in a long-term relationship with the surrounding land, ocean, rivers, ice and resources (Stevenson 1996)	013_TK_Beaufort_Chukchi_Report_Final[1].pdf
14	Review of Shells' 2012 Alaska Offshore Oil and Gas Exploraiton	2013	Resource Development	Government	US Department of the Interior	Review of Shell's progress	Report		Local communities, Indigenous peoples	Collaboration, Consultation, Informed, Conflict avoidance		Information gathering, Throughout operations, Progress feedback	Shell made efforts to meet Stipulation No.5 of lease stipulations. Public meetings - to inform about proposed operations and obtain input on potential environmental, social and health impacts. Communication Plan with local communities to coordinate with local subsistence users. Employed local subsistence advisors from these villages to provide consultation and guidance regarding whale migration and subsistence activities. Meetings with representatives from the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, and leadership from the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope to discuss Shellƒ??s 2012 operations, and received direct input from the Alaskan Native whaling community, during the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commissionƒ??s (AEWC) convention in Barrow in February	5. Respect for and coordination with local communities. - imperative that offshore exploration in the Arctic be harmonized with the needs of North Slope communities, including traditional subsistence use. Moreover, it is an operatorƒ??s safety and environmental performance that is the ultimate measure of how well and responsibly the company works with North Slope communities and Alaska Natives.	Aim: reduce impacts on subsistence whaling activities, satisfy requirements imposed by MMPA incidental take regulations and applicable BOEM lease applications. Began in 2009 - public meetings with communities and organizations. Created a communication plan out of meetings, set up a communications centre (Com Centres) in coastal villages during exploration activities. Employed local subsistence advisors who provided consultation and guidance on whale migraiton and subsistence activities as well as community comments and concerns, how to avoid conflict and coordinated with Com Centre personnel. Did not operate during peak whaling season, developed a scheduled in a conflict avoidance agreement. Example of discussion between Shell and communities to determine when to commence drilling operations	The involvement of Alaskans was extremely important to this review. The State of Alaska and its people, including Alaska Natives living on the North Slope, have a direct and strong interest in ensuring that any oil and gas operations and maritime activity offshore Alaska is conducted safely and responsibly.	014_Shell-report-3-8-13-Final.pdf
15	Lease Stipulations Oil and Gas Lease sale - Beaufort Sea	2007	Resource Development	Government	US Departmnet of the Interior	Lease stipulations	Mandatory Requirements	To meet stipulations of lease for exploration activities in the Beaufort Sea	Local communities, Indigenous peoples	Consultation, Conflict avoidance		Pre-approval process		No.5 - Conflict avoidance mechanisms to protect subsistence whaling and other subsistence harvesting activities. Prior to submitting a plan for activities during bowhead whale migration period, shall consult directly with affected subsistence users to reduce unreasonable conflicts. Will make every reasonable effort to assure activities are compatible with hunting and other subsistence activities and will not result in unreasonable interference. Conflict resolution meeting will take place.			015_BeaufortSeaOilLeaseSale202 Lease Stipulations.pdf
16	AR Law 48-4-OZ On Subsoil Lease and Use	2005	Resource Development	Government	Russia - Regional	The Law legitimizes respective community interests in subsoil lease provision and the related procedure publicity (p.1 Article 12).	Law	Governmnet responsibility to protect interests of local communities	Government. Local communities, Indigenous peoples	Informed, Participation,		Planning of project	Article 12. The interests of the population when granting the right to use subsoil plot(in the redaction of law Arkhangelsk region of N-342 17 Apr 18-oz) 1. the granting of subsoil use plot was disclosed, taking into account the interests of the people living in the territory. 2. the granting of subsoil plot for use has to be agreed with the local authorities of the respective municipal districts of Arkhangelsk region-if exposed subsoil plot is on the interurban territories, territories of several urban, rural settlements in Arkhangelsk region or several municipal districts in Arkhangelsk Oblast: with local authorities the appropriate city, rural settlements, the urban districts of Arkhangelsk region-in other cases.				016_On Subsoil Lease and Use in AR.docx
17	Law of Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) On Subsoil	1998	Resource Development	Government	Russia - Regional	Protection of indigenous people interests, rights of subsoil users and citizens is one of the competences of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)(Article 3).	Law	Governmnet responsibility to protect interests of local communities	Government. Local communities, Indigenous peoples	Informed, Participation,		Planning of project, Dispute resolution	The authority of the Republic of Sakha in the field of subsoil use relatiosn management include: p) protect the interests of minority and indigenous peoples living in the Republic, the rights of users and the interests of citizens, the settlement of disputes on matters of subsoil use:				017_On Subsoil Law of Republic of Sakha.docx
18	YNAD Law 56-ZAO on Sub-Soil Use in YNAD	2012	Resource Development	Government	Russia - Regional	The Law governs local subsoil provision and use in YNAD. In this regard, respective government agencies undertake to protect INSP and subsoil user and individual rights	Law	Governmnet responsibility to protect interests of local communities	Government. Local communities, Indigenous peoples	Informed, Participation,		Planning of project, Dispute resolution	Article 3. The powers of the executive bodies of the Autonomous Okrug The powers of the executive bodies of the autonomous district include: 9) protecting the interests of the small-numbered indigenous peoples of the North in the Autonomous Okrug, subsoil users rights and interests of citizens, the settlement of disputes on matters of subsoil use in the territory of the Autonomous Okrug:				018_On Sub-Soil Use in YNAD.docx
19	Federal Law 225-FZ on Production Sharing Agreements	1995	Resource Development	Government	Russia	Commission for determining tender approval	Law	Governmnet responsibility to protect interests of local communities: Inclusion on decision making board	Government. Local communities, Indigenous peoples	Participation, Compensation		Planning of project	Regarding subsoil areas located on the territories of traditional Habitat and economic activity of the small-numbered indigenous peoples, terms and conditions of auction shall be made for the payment of appropriate compensation for violation of traditional nature use. In cases, if provided by the subsoil areas are located on territories of traditional Habitat and economic activity of the small-numbered indigenous peoples, the Commission includes representatives of the federal authority for socio-economic development of the northern territories of the Russian Federation, as well as representatives of relevant organs of local self-government.				019_Russian Federal Law 225 Production Sharing Agreements.docx
20	Review of Offshore Drilling in the Canadian Arctic	2011	Resource Development	Government	Canada - National Energy Board	Review of safety and environmental requirements for offshore drilling in the Arctic	Report	Learn about concerns from northern communities about impacts of drilling.	Government. Local communities, Indigenous peoples	Informed, Information sharing	Disclosure & information availability	Information gathering	Community meetings in Yukon, Nunavut and NWT. Informed on NED role and to listen to comments on offshore drilling. Request of community members to claridy roles of government agencies including local governments and resources users and how to ensure land claim agreements are respected. Note taking and transcripts - Found on website	expect applicants to file written consent to allow the public release of any information filed with us that is not identified by the applicant as being commercially sensitive and privileged		Provides an overview of NEB role in regulating Arctic drilling.	020_Past is Always Present2011fnlrprt.pdf