After a species has been identified--and first nations are part of the COSEWIC recommendations--it goes to government and then, as part of that process before critical habitat is identified, there has to be proper consultation with first nations. They want to be consulted throughout the whole process and participate in the whole process.
Yes, you need to have a scientific biological critique, and criteria have to be based on science, but first nations traditional knowledge has to be part of that, too.