The first ever environmental conference focussing on First Nations communities in Northern Ontario is about sharing knowledge says a conference coordinator.
The Matawa Environmental Conference for Northern Ontario features hands-on environmental workshops for 180 people at Fort William Historical Park. Matawa environmental technologist Sarah Cockerton said community members, industry partners and government agencies are all taking part in the conference.
"We really need to do a conference like this not only for our First Nation communities," she said. "There’s a large number of environmental issues that we need to come together as a community and work through."
From contaminated sites to environmental assessments and land use planning, Cockerton said there are a number of issues facing First Nation communities in Northern Ontario.
"I’m hoping that they can use this knowledge to aid their communities in developing land and water management plans and forging forward in a Northern Ontario that might change," Cockerton said.
First Nation communities are "bombarded" with questions about environmental policy ever day as development picks up in the region said Cockerton.
"There’s a lot of potential things going on and not a lot of people who can help to work through them," she said.
The conference wraps up Thursday.
