Canada’s Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is hosting the International Indigenous Summit on Energy and Mining this week from June 26 to 29. The Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo and the National Congress of American Indians President Jefferson Kee will launch the first-ever international indigenous energy and mining summit in Niagara Falls.
Atleo said that they will begin to chart a new Indigenous economic relationship where First Nations can and will take the lead to build our own economies and contribute to Canada’s economy in ways that respect the environment and provide a sustainable future for all Canadians.
With virtually every major energy and mining project in Canada requiring consultations with native communities the power yielded by the AFN is huge. This summit is an opportunity for the corporate leaders from the mining and energy industry to meet with native leaders and government officials to discuss future opportunities and current project partnerships.
$300-billion in potential mining and energy projects across Canada ensures that the summit will see some major companies in attendance Atleo said that the idea here was that first nations were not opposed to development, but just not supportive of the idea of development at any cost, and must be involved in helping to determine a way forward.
In his inaugural address Mr Atleo said that they were starting a dialogue about the future of their peoples, lands, territories and resources, their governments and economies. Over the next three days they will share successes and best practices and chart new paths for Indigenous economic development. They will also build bridges and partnerships between Indigenous peoples and the industries and governments who need their resources and co-operation.
The summit will have representatives attending from the United States, China, Brazil, Germany and the private and public sectors. Indigenous delegates and representatives from Brazil to Nunavut will re-affirm their rights to participate in natural resource development.
The aims of the Assembly of First Nations are to protect the rights, treaty obligations, ceremonies, and claims of citizens of the First Nations in Canada.