Stakeholders — Oct. 20, 2022

Some words carry baggage. Although commonly used and well-intentioned, specific terms can have a historical context with negative connotations for different communities. Engineers are often encouraged to work with stakeholders to design and implement solutions. In this context, the intended meaning of stakeholder is usually “one who is involved in or affected by a course of action.” However, this term is also rooted in colonial practices. According to one government source, “When land acquisition was happening, this term referred to the allotment of land to settlers. Settlers were given wooden stakes to claim their plot of land prior to any treaty or land negotiations with Indigenous Peoples.” This term, along with nine other common terms, are discouraged by some indigenous groups. As alternatives, the terms “partners,” or in contexts where groups have constitutionally protected rights, “rights holders,” may be more appropriate.

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