Aboriginal Community Strategy on Pollution and Environment Gathering

Below is the agenda for next week’s Aboriginal Community Strategy on Pollution and the Environment conference being held in Thunder Bay.

The conference has been organized by the NGO Turtle Island Environmental Resources (Environmental Defence) to help Aboriginal communities fight pollution roblems they face. It will be held February 12 and 13, 2008 at the Travelodge on Arthur Street in Thunder Bay. More information is available here: http://tiers.environmentaldefence.ca/

Turtle Island Environmental Resources

~ a project of Environmental Defence

A Community Strategy on Pollution and the Environment

February 12^th and 13^th, 2008 in Thunder Bay

How has pollution and the environment impacted your exclusive use and enjoyment of your Territory, culture, hunting, fishing, traditional knowledge and gathering of medicines?

Ø Learn about ways to protect and preserve your environment and the health and well-being of your community

Ø Hear about successful environmental best practices from First Nations and environmental experts

Ø Participate in the development and implementation of a regional community strategy on pollution and the environment

Ø This gathering will be of interest to Chief and Council, Band Administrator, Environment Official, Health Official, Elders, Youth and concerned Community Members.

Workshops Water, Air, Food, Human Health – Contaminant Exposure and Dumping on First Nations Land
Ø The Environmental Bill of Rights Ø First Nation Consultation Ø Impact Benefits Agreements Ø First Nation Obligations Under Federal Programs Ø Federal Responsibilities Ø Provincial Responsibilities	Ø Best Practices The U.S. EPA Tribal System Ø The Bucket Brigade (Air) Ø The Bucket Brigade (Water) Ø Pollution Logs Ø Community Awareness Startup Guide Ø Resources
PTO Program Information Presenters Ø The Assembly of First Nations Ø The Chiefs of Ontario Ø Nishnawbe-Aski Nation	Toolkit & Legal Presenters Ø Environmental Defence Ø Ecojustice Canada (formerly Sierra Legal) Ø Global Community Monitors Ø The Assembly of First Nations Ø The Chiefs of Ontario Ø The Environmental Commissioners Office of Ontario Ø Indigenous Cooperative on the Environment
Elder and Youth Strategies
Conference Organizers Indigenous Cooperative on the Environment Environmental Defence and Ecojustice Canada	Sponsored by The Ontario Trillium Foundation Indigenous Cooperative on the Environment

OjiCree Environmental Gathering, Thunder Bay Territory
Time	Event
Tuesday, February 12th
8:30 – 8:45	Registration, Opening With Invocation
8:45 – 9:00	Spiritual Connections ICE
9:00 – 10:15	Assessment Questionnaire
10:15 – 10:30	Break
10:35 – 12:00	Community Action Activism Global Community Monitor – Environmental Defence
12:00 – 1:30	Lunch
1:30 – 2:45	Consultation, IBAs, and Legislative Obligations Ecojustice – COO – AFN
2:45 – 3:00	Break
3:05 – 5:00	The Environmental Bill of Rights The Environmental Commissioners Office
5:00 – 7:00	Traditional Dinner
7:00 – 9:00	Elders Workshop ICE Facilitated	Youth Workshop Environmental Defence Facilitated
Wednesday February 13th
8:30 – 8:35	Opening Prayer
8:35 – 9:15	Evening Summary with Q & A Ice Facilitated
9:15 – 9:45	Community Tool Kits AFN – COO
9:45 – 10:15	Best Practices Discussion Environmental Defence
10:15 – 10:30	Break
10:35 – 12:00	Take-away Messages and Outcomes Panel Facilitated
12:00 – 1:30	Lunch
1:30 – 2:45	Developing a Community Strategy on Pollution and Your Environment Panel: Environmental Defence – Sierra Legal – COO – AFN- ICE
2:45 – 3:00	Break
3:05 – 5:00	Administrative and Political Directions Principal Paper Environmental Defence
5:00 – 7:00	Traditional Dinner

Community Assessment

1) How has pollution and the environment impacted your exclusive use and enjoyment of your Territory, cultural activities, hunting, fishing, traditional knowledge and gathering of medicines?

2) Does your community suffer from illegal dumping?

3) Are toxic contaminants (ie, tires, refrigerators, paint cans, etc.) found dumped in your community?

4) Do you recognize that the consultation process, as reaffirmed by The Supreme Court of Canada, impacts your rights and your territory?

5) Does your health department find high unexplainable rates of respiratory, cardiovascular, muscular skeletal, epidermal, gastrointestinal and developmental cases in your community membership?

Questions for the Elders

1. Do you feel that western culture has over run local traditional knowledge in the management of the environment within your territory?

2. Do you think your community values Elder participation in the development of a community strategy on pollution and the environment?

3. How far back would you have to go to find the time when your community was not impacted by Pollution and the Environment?

Questions for the Youth

1) Are you concerned about environmental issues in your community?

2) Do you think youth participation is important to the development of a community strategy on pollution and the environment?

3) What timeframe would you set to see the full results of the Community Strategy on Pollution and the Environment? (ie: where your community is no longer negatively impacted by pollution and the environment?)

TIERS [Turtle Island Environmental Resources]

Environmental Defence
Telephone: 866-420-8477 ~ 416-271-6269
FAX: 416-323-9301