1. Etuaptmumk: from framework to praxis in mining education
E. Anne Johnson, PhD PMPA
Assistant Professor
Robert M. Buchan Department of Mining
Etuaptmumk, is a Miꞌkmaq philosophy of learning both traditional indigenous and western science. It has informed curriculum development in MINE 422, Mining and Sustainability, a mandatory course in the Mining Engineering program. The Etuaptmumk framework scaffolds the development of dialogic skills and intercultural competence needed to conceptualize and manage social risk in ways that promote and equity.

2. Overarching Commitment:
significant and meaningful Indigenous content,
graduating students gain a basic understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems relevant to their discipline

3. Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) Graduate Attributes
1. Knowledge base for engineering
7. Communication Skills
2. Problem Analysis
8. Professionalism
3. Investigation
9. Impact of engineering on society and the environment
4. Design
10. Ethics and Equity
5. Use of Engineering Tools
11. Economics and Project Management
6.Individual and Team Work
12. Lifelong Learning

4. Geography as well as physical and temporal scale make extractive projects particularly prone to social risk – the risk that a project might be derailed by social factors as the values of the dominant culture and the capitalist economy confront the traditional values of affected, mostly Indigenous communities. Mining engineers are trained to manage technical and finance risks; but, as communities affected by extractive projects have demanded the restoration of rights ignored by colonization, EY reports that in 2019, the most significant risk that mining must manage is social risk. Traditional engineering education has not equipped graduates to understand the drivers of social risk much less the tools and techniques to address it.
It thus behoves engineering schools to prepare students for a world with new constraints - where cultural values will affect design, construction and operational decisions. This requires curriculum revision to ensure that non-Indigenous engineers come to appreciate the values and perspectives of Indigenous peoples and that Indigenous students feel that they are welcome and that their cultural perspectives are valued and relevant.

5. Why we NEED to Change: SOCIAL RISK
Top 10 Business Risk Facing Mining & Metals
(Ernst & Young, 2018)

9. There is much to do
I will do my best

11. Sources
Engineers Canada. (2017) Accreditation Criteria and Procedures. Accessed at
Fang, L. (2014). CEAB Graduate Attribute Assessment at Ryerson University. Accessed at