Coast Salish Traditional Territory (Vancouver) – More than 200 Chiefs and First Nations representatives gathered at the Chief Joe Mathias Squamish Nation Centre this week to discuss energy development opportunities and challenges facing First Nations communities and to give expression to the New Relationship between BC First Nations and the provincial government with regard to the energy sector. Over the last three days Chiefs, elders, and other delegates developed a First Nations Energy Action Plan.
Key speakers at the three day energy summit included environmental scientist David Suzuki, US Consul General Lewis Lukens, and BC Minister of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources Richard Neufeld, all of whom acknowledged the importance to cooperate with First Nations on energy-related projects.
“The development of a First Nations energy action plan to engage government and industry on all energy related matters will give provide a voice for First Nations to look at the enormous opportunities and challenges ahead of us,” stated Dave Porter, a member of the First Nations Summit political executive.