FSIN Climate Change Conference Concludes

FSIN Climate Change Conference Concludes

Friday, October 05, 2007 at 13:47

For the past two days, First Nations people from across the province were in Regina listening to some prominent speakers talk about the environment.

The “Only a Matter of Time” conference put on by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations wrapped up yesterday.

Former politician and prominent activist Elijah Harper told delegates that because First Nations citizens live off the land, they are the first ones to feel the effects if there’s anything happening to the environment.

That was exactly why environmentalist and CBC journalist Evan Solomon wanted to attend the conference.

Solomon says getting the message out that First Nations they have a really important role to play in environmental stewardship is crucial.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine agrees — and that’s why he’s so upset that First Nations people were not consulted for the federal government’s new climate change plan.

Fontaine also says it’s only fair to allow First Nations people to share in the wealth derived from the land.