AFNQL Walks for Kyoto
WENDAKE, QC, April 22 – Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL), has expressed his support for the Green-Quebec-Kyoto Coalition. Chief Picard and other Chiefs of the First Nations of Quebec walked through the streets of Montreal today to symbolize their hope that the federal and the provincial governments will respect the Kyoto Protocol.
“Prime Minister Harper must respect the signature of the Kyoto Agreement. The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador declared the importance of ratifying and supporting Kyoto in a Resolution that they adopted in 2002, whereby they called on all levels of government in Canada to work in conjunction with the First Nations to ensure the effective implementation of the United Nations Framework Agreement” stated Chief Picard. It should be remembered that the Secretary of the United Nations Framework Agreement has already pointed out that Aboriginal peoples are those who are at greatest risk as a result of climate changes and that only minimal resources have been allocated to ensure adaptation to climate changes.
Since most First Nations communities are located either in remote forest and coastal zones, they will the first peoples to suffer the consequences of climate changes, namely:
First Nations’ traditional knowledge represents a key element of any strategies designed to combat the effects of climate change.
The First Nations of Quebec and Labrador Sustainable Development Institute (FNQLSDI) is the organization that has been mandated by the AFNQL to deal with environmental issues.
The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador is the regional organization that represents First Nation Chiefs of Quebec and Labrador.
For further information: Alain Garon, Communications Officer, (418) 842-5020, Cell: (418) 956-5720