Minister McKenna Hosts High-Level Panel on Canadian Indigenous Leadership on Climate Change and Commits to enhancing Indigenous peoples' voices in UNFCCC

MARRAKECH, Morocco, Nov. 18, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada benefits from the leadership and active contributions of First Nation peoples, Inuit, and Métis on climate action. From the Climate Conference in Marrakech, Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, hosted a high-level panel highlighting the significant leadership and actions of Indigenous peoples to combat and adapt to climate change in Canada.

Panelists who shared their perspectives included Natan Obed, President of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami; Robert Bertrand, National Chief of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples; Francyne Joe, President of the Native Women's Association of Canada; and Francois Paulette, Elder of the Dene Nation. The event also included perspectives from Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Assembly of First Nations, Métis National Council, the Treaty 7 Blood Tribe, and Maatalii Okalik, President of the National Inuit Youth Council in Canada.

Minister McKenna reaffirmed that Canada is committed to

• reconcile with Indigenous peoples and implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
• enhance engagement with Indigenous peoples on international climate-change issues; and
• promote and strengthen the engagement, efforts, and actions of Indigenous peoples in international climate action.

Quote

"The Government of Canada will continue to respect, promote, and consider the rights of Indigenous peoples when taking action to address climate change. Indigenous peoples are not just on the forefront of climate-change impacts, but also climate-change solutions. We have heard from Indigenous peoples of Canada that there is a need to recognize their rightful voice in the UNFCCC. I challenge UNFCCC Parties to work together with Indigenous peoples and with Canada to formulate a platform for Indigenous peoples, as we agreed to in the Paris decision."

– Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Associated link

www.climatechange.gc.ca

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SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada

Caitlin Workman, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, 819-938-9436; Media Relations, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 819-938-3338 or 1-844-836-7799 (toll free)