Paper short abstract:

Mine reclamation and closure in the traditional territories of Indigenous rights holders in Alberta, Canada raises issues of environmental, social and cultural significance.

Paper long abstract:

We highlight insights developed collaboratively with members of a First Nation about their lived experience with the persistence of oil sands mine activities and reclaimed lands, and apply a participatory and inclusive planning approach with the potential to empower host communities with an equitable role in the planning and decision making for sustainable socioeconomic, cultural, and environmental post-closure outcomes. Two different cultural activities were evaluated for their effectiveness in empowering intercultural dialogue and guiding creation of a shared post-closure vision between a First Nation and an oil sands company. We share perspectives, barriers, and opportunities for intercultural understanding and participation in mine reclamation and closure decision-making to ameliorate cultural land use impacts. We demonstrate that application of inclusive cultural practices and protocols in mine reclamation and closure planning empowered intercultural dialogue; enhanced understanding across cultural paradigms; supported shared project decision-making; produced moments of overlapping reclamation stories; and resulted in a parallel project vision for guiding cultural and landscape reclamation.