To: Chiefs of Ontario, Tribal Councils and PTOs
Dt: November 2, 2005
Fr: Sue Chiblow, Environment Coordinator
Re: Regional Chiefs Committee on Environment

AFN’s Regional Chiefs Committee on Environment (RCCE) met on October 24 and 25 in Moncton, NB. Items on the agenda included:

1. Sector sustainable tables,
2. AFNs Environmental stewardship policy table with Environment Canada,
3. First Nations water quality and protection,
4. Canadian Environmental Assessment Act participation,
5. Climate change,
6. Nuclear waste and
7. Regional environmental issues.

1. Sector Sustainable Tables
Background: Environment Canada (EC) is in the process of establishing a series of sector sustainability tables to consider sustainable development in the areas of mining, energy, chemicals, forests and cross-cutting issues. The tables would be permanent but are not a decision making body and would consist of government, industry, non-government organizations and Aboriginal groups with approximately 15 seats in total. There would be only 2 seats for “Aboriginal people”, which includes First Nations and other National Aboriginal Organizations.
Concerns: This is a government concept and would not provide fair representation for First Nations at the tables thus ignoring the government to government relationships. First Nations capacity and resources is also being ignored since many First Nations do not have the capacity or resources to be able to effectively participate in the tables or analysis any information that may be disseminated from the sector tables.

2. AFNs Environmental Stewardship Policy Table with Environment Canada
AFN is proposing to EC to establish an Accord between AFN and EC to agree to work together on environment related policy development. This would build on the First Nations – Canada Accord signed by the National Chief and the Canadian government in May 2005. The Accord would create a Joint Policy Table composed of an equal number of First Nations political and technical representatives and EC officials to discuss matters under Environment Canada’s mandate.

3. First Nations Water Quality and Protection
In response to Chapter 5, Drinking Water in First Nations Communities in the Report of the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development to the House of Commons, AFN is proposing to establish a Joint Policy Table with EC, Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC) and Health Canada (HC) with respect to water related issues of concern to First Nations. This would include the establishment of a Chiefs and Technical committee composed of members from the existing Health, Housing and Environment committees at the AFN and any other interested individuals. The joint table would consist of an equal number of First Nation representatives from the Chief and Technical Committee at the AFN and Canadian government officials. This would also include research on water related issues of concern to First Nations and to organize a national First Nations water policy forum for next fiscal year.

4. Canadian Environmental Assessment Act Participation
AFN is proposing to establish an Accord with the Canadian Environmental Protection Agency and establish a joint First Nations-Canada table to develop policy on environmental assessment. This would be similar to the other tables proposed for water and environment.

5. Climate Change
Resolution number 11/2005 has been passed in regards to climate change. AFN has been tasked with lobbying the government to further develop Project Green and other elated policies, plans and implementation strategies to support First Nations in responding to climate change. AFN is to negotiate with Canada to secure the necessary financial resources for individual First Nations to develop capacity at the community level and to continue its research on domestic and international climate change related issues including energy. Also, AFN is to participate in coordination with First Nations provincial and territorial organizations and communities in the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Meeting of the Parties to the Koyto Protocol.¹

6. Nuclear Waste
AFN is finalizing its work on the nuclear fuel dialogue in the next month. A report was compiled listing issues and recommendations². Issues include Aboriginal & Treaty Rights, fiduciary responsibility, consultation, traditional knowledge, capacity, energy, low & intermediate waste, importation of waste, emergency response and timelines. AFN also has a resolution regarding nuclear waste management.

7. Regional Environmental Issues
Each representative had an opportunity to discuss environmental issues in their respective regions. The representative from BC announced the completion of a First Nations Environmental Assessment Toolkit, which is now available for purchase. View the following website http://www.fneatwg.org/ for more information on the toolkit.³

If you require further information on the outcome of the meeting, do not hesitate to contact me.

¹ The full resolution can viewed at www.afn.ca.
² The full report can be viewed at http://www.afn.ca/article.asp?id=1772
³ This resolution can be viewed at www.afn.ca.