Aboriginal peoples in Canada present a special case of citizen involvement in forest governance, with rights and status that go beyond those of other stakeholders and individuals. Increasingly, participation processes aimed specifically at Aboriginal representatives are being used to encourage their involvement in forest management. This article asks what would be the characteristics of a distinct process that could respond to Aboriginal rights, needs and expectations. We do so by combining the results of a broad Québec-wide study with those from a case study of forestry participation in a single community. A total of 68 consultation processes are analyzed. These experiences enable the identification of several characteristics of consultation processes used for First Nations. We also note that distinct consultations typically reflect the same practices that are used more generally for public participation in forestry, raising the question of whether or not these consultations truly respond to Aboriginal rights, needs and expectations in Québec.

Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal forestry, forest management, public participation mechanisms, duty to consult, Canada