Under Saugeen’s Chief Randall Kahgee and Nawash’s Chief Ralph Akiwenzie, SON was among the first to push for proper consultation. Our authority comes from the land – from aki – and consultation helps us protect aki. Now we’re adding ‘Free, Prior and Informed Consent’ to our consultation protocols. That’s a phrase from the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and it’s something the federal government is thinking about implementing.

But what is it? And what does it mean for First Nations, Governments and proponents wanting to develop projects in First Nations’ traditional territories? Those are questions that this conference will address. Some of the speakers who will do so are:

Richard Kahgee, former Saugeen Chief, now with Pape, Salter Teillet – will speak on Nuclear issues.

Kate Kempton, partner at Olthuis, Kleer & Towshend – litigation and negotiator for FNs in several areas.

Hayden King, from Beausoleil FN and ED of the new Yellowhead Institute – speaking on Indigenous nationhood.

Russel Diabo, Policy Advisor to Alqonquin FNs and former candidate for Grand Chief of AFN.

Doran Ritchie, Resources Manager, SON Environment Office – SON lead on consultations with proponents.

“Reconciliation means many things,” says Michael Johnston, Manager of the SON Environmental Office. “But of all the forms it can take, perhaps none is as important as reconciliation with aki – that word includes the air and the water and all who live in them. Everything we have comes from the land yet, as the climate is telling us, we have not been treating her well. The idea of this Free, Prior and Informed Conference is to find ways of working together for the sake of the land.”

People can go online to register at www.EmpoweringOurFuture.ca or phone 519-534-5507.

SON sponsors conference on Free, Prior & Informed Consent
October 25-26, 2018
Blue Mountain Inn Conference Centre, Collingwood ON
https://empoweringourfuture.ca/

source: media release, Saugeen Ojibway Nation