Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the opportunity to go first. That used to happen to me in school all the time--A for Atleo, and somehow you end up going first.
I hope I didn't disrupt your proceedings, but I do appreciate the opportunity and indeed the privilege of presenting here today.
As I begin, I'd like to summarize my presentation by stating up front that a lot of good conservation is occurring across our respective territories that involves first nations and industry as well as NGOs. Perhaps this is a place to start to recognize the importance of this study, the work of this committee, the presence of all of you as parliamentarians, and to thank you for the invitation to participate and provide some thoughts and reflect on the questions you posed.
The challenge in developing a national conservation plan, NCP, will be in maintaining a uniform and coherent vision that builds on existing successes. History and experience tell us that anything less than bringing in first nations as full partners risks undermining our shared priorities.
In developing an NCP, we, the AFN, suggest adopting a broad framework based on the principle of sustainable use of environmental resources. For the NCP to be successful and to respond to questions around priorities, we recommend that the NCP respect first nations' treaty and aboriginal title and rights as the basis to manage lands and enable partnerships with industry as well as NGOs; that it must create opportunities for first nations to apply and share traditional knowledge and practices throughout their traditional territories; and must confirm first nations involvement at the national, regional, and community levels to ensure a coordinated approach, words that we would describe in my language, but which I'm going to defer to Dr. Lunney to test his ability to speak in Nuu-chah-nulth, so maybe we'll leave that for later.
What conservation means to first nations is that we've been conserving since time immemorial, practising sustainability long before there was a term for it. That is articulated in our various indigenous languages, and we helped to introduce the concept of sustainability to the world. Think back to the original international discussions in Rio, the notions about sustainability and the need for indigenous peoples to participate in defining it going forward.
First nations concepts of sustainability have always been distinctive mainstream environmentalism, whereas conservationists have often sought to protect the environment by prohibiting the use of environmental resources. I could cite many examples I could reflect on even from my own home territories where I come from, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
First nations have always recognized that we're part of the environment. We cannot conserve by failing to use resources any more than we can by overusing them. Our prosperity depends on our ability to use environmental resources in a balanced fashion. This is not unique to first nations but is a common feature of all societies, and indeed all life on earth.
The issue for first nations and for all Canadians is how we use resources in a way that is sustainable. We submit that the primary focus of the NCP should be to encourage the sustainable use of environmental resources, with particular emphasis on the customary and sustainable use of resources by first nations.
In the area of customary and sustainable use, the idea that customary and sustainable use should be a focus of national conservation planning isn't new. Article 10(c) of the Convention on Biological Diversity states that Canada shall “Protect and encourage customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with conservation or sustainable use requirements”.
Supporting customary and sustainable use of resources will require the development of two pillars in the NCP: one, the application of traditional knowledge, and two, incredibly important, the recognition of first nations treaty and aboriginal rights. I cannot overemphasize that second element.
It's a little known fact that some of the most biodiverse regions in southern Ontario and across Canada have something in common. These regions are not particularly remote, nor have they enjoyed any meaningful environmental protection under federal or provincial law. Of course what I am referring to here are first nations communities.
Why are first nations communities so diverse? It certainly doesn't have anything to do with the federal regulatory framework, or for that matter any centralized protection goals, and very few first nations have any formal Indian Act bylaws that deal specifically with biodiversity. The reason these areas are so diverse is that first nations continue to manage them in the same way they managed their own environments for countless generations.
Increasingly, first nations are using a combination of science and traditional knowledge to manage environments throughout their traditional territories. The AFN notes article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which calls on Canada to “respect, preserve, and maintain the knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities”. I think about a science panel in Clayoquot Sound that emerged from the major blockades against clearcut logging in my own home territories, where both scientists as well as traditional knowledge leaders in our communities, one who happened to be my own father, co-chaired a major initiative that brought these elements I've just articulated together. So we do have examples to draw from.
I know that the standing committee has already heard about the Aichi biodiversity targets, and I'd like to speak to target number 18. It requires that traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of first nations relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and their customary use of biological resources are respected, integrated, and reflected in conservation initiatives with the full and effective participation of first nations. We assert that this is not an unduly rigorous goal and is easily achievable in the context of the NCP.
There are many examples of first nations applying traditional knowledge while working with others, such as with Parks Canada, to educate Canadians. Point Pelee National Park works jointly with the Caldwell First Nation and Walpole Island First Nation to manage the park and increase first nations content within the park. By increasing the use of our knowledge, the joint management of parks, and understandings of our cultures through education programs, first nations can help Canadians connect with nature and acquire a better understanding of our cultures, our languages, and knowledge systems. This absolutely was the effort that led us to hold the crown and first nations gathering this January. It was to talk about the original relationships that formed this very country, the making of treaty, and the need to return to that notion of better understanding between first nations and the rest of Canada.
First nations in Canada require clean environments and access to natural resources in order to continue and maintain their cultures and livelihoods. Sustainability is a foundation for reconciliation, because in the absence of a clean environment, first nations cultures cannot be preserved or promoted. Moreover, first nations rights, particularly harvesting rights, cannot be exercised when environments are under stress and species are near the brink of extinction. We want to emphasize here that the rights we're speaking of are completely linked to conservation and customary and sustainable use. We assert that we do not pull those pieces apart; they must remain inextricably linked together.
This is entirely consistent with what Canada has endorsed, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. I draw attention to article 29 of the declaration, which articulates a right to conservation and protection of the environments of indigenous lands and territories and calls for countries to establish programs for the conservation and protection of indigenous lands and territories.
Article 24 of the declaration articulates a right to conservation of medicinal plants. The NCP, as currently envisioned, could easily fulfill both standards. What is less well known is that first nations treaty and aboriginal rights are also valuable tools to conserve critical environments.
Another element of the outcome of the crown gathering that occurred last January was an expression on the part of government, through the Prime Minister, to work with first nations to implement treaty rights and to give expression to the recognition and implementation of aboriginal title and rights.
Our own laws obligate first nations to act as stewards for the environment, to ensure that any resources taken from the environment are taken in a respectful and sustainable manner. We always heard “Only take what you need”. That was a precept we would all be taught. When our rights are recognized, first nations can fulfill our obligations under our own laws. And we have many other such examples, for instance a tribal park in my own home territory that also emerged from those blockades in the early-nineties, the war in Clayoquot Sound, as it's often referred to.
We have a good number of other examples. In Ontario, there was first nations involvement in the bid to have the east side of Lake Winnipeg designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of course we have Gwaii Haanas, the experience in Haida Gwaii in British Columbia.
By way of conclusion, I think a committee like this readily knows there are many good examples we can learn from. We don't need to reinvent the wheel. But what we do need is to get the message to all first nations, as well as to industry, government, and NGOs, as far as examining what's possible.
A national approach must respect and recognize first nations treaty and aboriginal title and rights, and support first nations in applying their traditional knowledge. Clear respect of those rights is a tool to effective conservation and sustainable use. Failing to respect rights will become an obstacle. It will be a barrier to progress. A meaningful national dialogue can do that, but only if first nations are fully involved.
I will conclude with the three main points the AFN suggests to the standing committee. One, respect first nations treaty and aboriginal title and rights as the basis to manage lands and enable partnerships with industry and NGOs. Two, create opportunities for first nations to apply and share traditional knowledge and practices throughout their traditional territories. Lastly, confirm first nations involvement at the national, regional, and community levels to ensure a coordinated approach.
Thank you for the opportunity to present.