MANAGING ABORIGINAL LAND and WATER INTERESTS

MARCH 28, 2011

8:00

Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00

Elder’s Opening Prayer and Welcoming Remarks from Insight Information

9:05

Co-Chair’s Opening Remarks

Grand Chief Stan Louttit
Mushkegowuk Council

9:15

Cases Recently Issued by or Currently Awaiting Decision by the Supreme Court of Canada

Keith B. Bergner
Partner
Lawson Lundell LLP

• Yukon v. Little Salmon/Carmacks First Nation, heard November 2009 – issued October 2010
• Rio Tinto Alcan and BC Hydro v. Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, heard May 2010
• Standing Buffalo v. Enbridge (Leave to Appeal pending)

10:00

Lands and Economic Development – “Extending the Boundaries”

Jennifer Copegog 
Lands Manager
Beausoleil First Nation

• Understanding the different lands regimes
• Leasing First Nation land
• Economic spins offs

10:45

Networking Coffee Break

11:00

Key Issues with Impact Benefit Agreements (IBA)

Richard J. King
Counsel for Five Nations Energy Inc.
Partner, Environmental and Energy Law
Ogilvy Renault LLP

• The need for environmental protection provisions within IBAs
• Coordinating environmental protection provisions with various enrollment assessment and other regulatory processes
• The timing of IBA negotiations relative to the enrollment assessment processes
• Overview of environmental protection issues within IBAs

11:45

“Water, Water, Everywhere; But Not a Drop to Drink” - Emerging Global Water Issues Affecting Water Quality and Quantity across Our Nation

Lee D. Wilson
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemistry
University of Saskatchewan

• National and international water issues
• Focus on several aboriginal communities in Canada
• Factors affecting water quality and quantity
• Water science and technology
• Future prospects and global water commons

12:30

Networking Luncheon

1:15

Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse
Assembly of First Nations (AFN)

1:45

Carbon Credit Opportunities for Aboriginal Communities

Max Faille
Partner
Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP

• What are carbon credits?
• How can Aboriginal communities benefit?
• Opportunities, risks and legal challenges

Phil Ludvigsen 
Director, Carbon Advisory – Canada
KPMG

• Life cycle of a carbon offset/credit project
• Ideal attributes for an Aboriginal community forestry carbon projects
• Potential buyers for Aboriginal community carbon credits

3:00

Networking Refreshment Break

3:15

Land Use Impact – Use of Traditional Knowledge, Land and Occupancy Data

Noella Jacko-Pitawanakwat 
Lands Director
Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve

4:00

Water – The Defining Substance of the 21st Century

Dr. Rudy Sookbirsingh CCEP, AAS, BSc, MES, Ph.D.
Environmental Scientist
Environmental Affairs Coordinator
Government & Industry Relations
Mikisew Cree First Nation

• Water — the universal solvent
• Water — the commodification
• Water — globally, Canada, and Alberta
• Water wars — industrial Alberta and First Nations

5:00

Co-Chair’s Summation and Conference Adjourns for the Day

MARCH 29, 2011

8:00

Continental Breakfast

9:00

Remarks from Insight Information

9:05

Co-Chair’s Opening Remarks

Chief Bryan LaForme 
Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation

9:15

Managing Lands and Water… A Sacred Trust

Chief Joseph Gilbert
Walpole Island First Nation

• Walpole Island First Nation (WIFN) Aboriginal title litigation
• WIFN consultation and accommodation protocol-application
• An emerging theme is the sustainability of First Nation protocols and governance connections
• Networking with the First Nations with respect to land and water issues

10:15

Networking Coffee Break

10:30

A Perspective of the "Far North Act" as it Becomes Law

David de Launay
Assistant Deputy Minister
Regional Operations Division
Ministry of Natural Resources

• The “Ring of Fire” proposed mining and the impact downstream to the Attawapiskat river and its watershed
• Environmental assessment
• Issues that arise from the Far North Act and its effect on the 225,000 sq km that is to be set aside

11:15

Maximizing Aboriginal Participation in the Canadian Economy

Rick Hansen, M. Ed.
National Director Aboriginal Affairs
Siemens Canada

• Working with Siemens as a partner
• First Nation’s participation
• Economic “growth together”

12:15

Networking Luncheon

1:15

An Integrated Watershed Management Plan

Jay S. White, M.Sc., P.Biol.
Principal
Aquality Environmental Consulting Ltd.

• Driftpile First Nations (Alberta) Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP)
• Integrated watershed management planning and sustainability
• Risks to water resources and human health
• Navigating the regulatory environment (Municipal, Provincial and Federal)
• Requirements for First Nations to develop SWPPs

2:00

Networking Refreshment Break

2:15

Managing Issues Encountered in Providing Clean Drinking Water

Challenges and Complexities with Regulating to Ensure Safe Drinking Water in First Nations Communities

Juli Abouchar
Partner
Certified Specialist in Environmental Law
Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP

• How this is complicated by geography, players and funding
• The present “regulatory” patchwork
• Regulation as a means of ensuring water quality – the necessary elements
• Proposed federal legislation – would Bill S-11 ensure safe drinking water?

Technical Issues and Remedies

George Terry
Vice President, Operations – Northern Ontario
First Nations and Integrated Systems
Ontario Clean Water Agency

• Water conditions in First Nation communities
• Water treatment operator training
• Equipment failures and breakdown
• Funding issues

3:30

Traditional Knowledge and its Role in Consultation

Steve Lindley
Vice President
Aboriginal and Northern Affairs
SNC-Lavalin Inc.

• Traditional knowledge studies as a source of land use data
• Interaction of traditional knowledge studies and western science as applied in environmental impact assessment
• The role of traditional knowledge studies in community engagement

4:15

• Chiefs, Community Leaders and Band Council Members
• First Nations, Métis and Inuit Community Members
• Federal, Provincial and Municipal Representatives
• Land Use and Sustainable Development Managers
• Land and Water Resource Managers, Administrators
• Chief Negotiators, Treaty Negotiators and Mediators
• Claim Negotiators
• Environmental Natural Resources Managers, Consultants, Policy Advisors and Regulators
• Natural Resource and Economic Development Officers
• Infrastructure Engineers
• Wastewater Collection or Treatment System Managers or Operators

• Private Sector Consulting Firms Involved in Wastewater Engineering or Management Projects
• Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Customers of Water/Wastewater Services
• Academic and Environmental Stakeholder Groups
• Legal Counsel Practicing Aboriginal, Environmental, Commercial and Constitutional Law or Negotiations
• Regulator and Environmental Policy Makers
• Senior Executives, Directors and Managers of Companies in:
  • Energy, Hydropower, Wind Power – Green Energy, Mining, Forestry, Pulp and Paper, Oil & Gas (natural resources firms), Land Development Sectors, Fisheries
• Business Developers and Entrepreneurs

Greetings,

Of the highest importance to our people are “Land and Water”. The challenge of managing these increasingly important issues is an on-going process with many considerations and a great need to develop strategies that address them. Paramount while implementing best practices must also be consideration of the community, regional requirements and traditional values.

Fishery, forestry, oil drilling, mining and mineral exploration, pipelines and road building can bring opportunities for economic development, jobs and training but there are also many Aboriginal family members that continue to pursue a traditional life-style based on hunting and fishing and relate to the spirit connection to the land and water. Aboriginal leaders are finding effective ways to balance the interests between economic development and environmental stewardship in order to achieve sustainable self reliance for their communities.

This Insight Information conference will focus on recent developments in managing land and water issues, including the advancements, initiatives and developments in providing sustainable drinking water, preserving water resources, managing wastewater and addressing polluted waters that are affecting the living conditions, health and economies in First communities. In addition to the need for meaningful and comprehensive environmental stewardship, the conference will also discuss strategies for First Nations to achieve many of the economic benefits without sacrificing the very lands and resources that have sustained them since time immemorial.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about recent developments in Aboriginal land and water management that can guide your community. You will gain insights from industry and Aboriginal leaders who have been through the process and have learned key lessons about successfully working together. Establish important contacts during the networking luncheons, and informal breaks. The question periods after each session are invaluable and will give you the opportunity to present your questions and hear the latest developments.

We look forward to meeting you in Toronto.

Grand Chief Stan Louttit 
Mushkegowuk Council

Chief Bryan LaForme 
Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation

This program can be applied towards 4 of the 12 hours of annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) required by the Law Society of Upper Canada. Please note that these CPD hours are not accredited for the New Member Requirement.

MARKETING PARTNERS

Register 3 delegates for the main conference at regular price at the same time and you’re entitled to register a fourth person from your organization at no charge. For other group discounts, please call 1-888-777-1707. All discounts must be redeemed when booking, discounts will not be valid or applied after this time.