In Episode 17 of the Indigenous Voices and Resource Development podcast, John Desjarlais sits down with Crystal Smith, former Chief Councillor of the Haisla Nation, on Haisla territory for a conversation about leadership, community, and what it takes to move major projects forward in a good way.
Crystal reflects on growing up in community, the realities of intergenerational trauma, and the personal experiences that shaped her leadership. She speaks openly about loss, poverty, and hardship, but also about the determination that came from wanting something better for her daughters, her grandsons, and her people.
A big part of the episode focuses on how Haisla Nation approached major development decisions, including LNG Canada, Coastal GasLink, and Cedar LNG. Crystal talks about what it took to build community support, why transparency and follow-up mattered, and how consent had to be treated as an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time process. She explains how leadership worked to make sure people understood not only the risks and impacts, but also the longer-term social and economic opportunities tied to those projects.
The conversation also gets into some of the harder parts of leadership. Crystal shares what it was like to face criticism, lateral violence, and personal attacks while staying committed to a long-term vision for the community. She talks about the moments that made it worth it, especially seeing Haisla members begin to access new opportunities, come home, and build more stable lives for their families.
John and Crystal also discuss the importance of Indigenous communities working together, especially when projects involve overlapping territories and shared interests. Crystal offers a grounded perspective on what stronger collaboration could look like and why communities need to lead those conversations themselves.
The episode closes with Crystal’s thoughts on her role with Canada’s Major Projects Indigenous Advisory Council and the opportunity to help improve how governments and proponents engage with Indigenous communities going forward.