(Photo: Sheldon Wuttunee / Provided By Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence)
By Lori Deets
MBC News Freelance Correspondent
First Nations University of Canada
The Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence is hosting an inaugural forum to explore the potential of First Nations partnerships in energy and natural resource development.
The 3-day event, From Tradition to Transition: Empowering our Energy Future, is being held May 27, 28, and 29th, at Prairie Land Park in Saskatoon.
Sheldon Wuttunee, the president and CEO of Saskatchewan’s First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence, says the focus and approach the centre has taken for the event was to educate government and industry about First Nations and Indigenous worldviews and perspectives.
Wuttunee says it is crucial that our First Nations, leadership, elders, membership, and youth are at the table to ensure that their voices are heard. First Nations have a very unique approach and a very unique responsibility to natural resource development.
“When we’re looking at the development of future energy and natural resource projects, we want to ensure that we send a strong message that, you know, cultural and environmental sustainability and stewardship are important to us—ensuring that our future generations have access to clean lands and waters to practice our traditional, cultural, and ceremonial ways of life. And then also, looking at opportunities around, equity and ownership within projects are very important to many of our First Nations as well in advancing economic partnerships.”
The event will start with a youth summit on May 27th. May 28 and 29th will offer a full agenda and opportunities to hear from industry experts, policy makers, and First Nations leaders.
Wuttunee says there is a wide range of speakers that have made a significant impact not only in Saskatchewan but also nationally and internationally.
“We have speakers from right across North America. Representatives of First Nations organizations. We have some elders that are coming in from our treaty territories here in Saskatchewan and in Alberta to share a bit about who we are as First Nations people.
The Saskatchewan First Nations Natural Resource Centre of Excellence is owned by 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan; they are the hosts and organizers for this event.
Registration is still open; for more information, see their website.